FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 29, 2023
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The Islamic Society of Augusta Calls for Honoring of International Law and for a Ceasefire
The Islamic Society of Augusta, GA (“ISA”) collectively grieves the loss of civilian life in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.
As Muslims with unwavering dedication to justice and the preservation of life, we are profoundly concerned that:
(1) Palestinian civilians in Gaza have been subjected to collective punishment through a siege by Israel for the last three weeks, preventing Gazans from access to food, drinking water, medical supplies, running water, electricity, and fuel.
(2) More than two million Gazans, half of whom are children, are living in one of the most densely populated places on earth, have been on the receiving end of the most intense bombing this century witnessed. It resulted, so far, in the death of over 8,000 civilians, and the destruction of thousands of homes, vital infrastructures, and UN designated safe schools, hospitals, churches and mosques.
(3) On October 27, 2023, the Gaza Strip was cut off from the world after Israel blocked the communication infrastructure, and no longer has radio, telephone, or internet connection.
(4) International law experts and organizations have issued statements and reports asserting Israel is attempting to commit or is actively committing a genocide against the Palestinian people of the Gaza Strip.
We call for honoring the international and humanitarian law during warfare and for a ceasefire.
We call on the US administration to exercise its moral responsibility to demand Israel respect the UN resolution to stop the war, and to allow adequate humanitarian aid into Gaza.
We call on our elected officials to demand the administration work for the end of the siege, ceasefire and a negotiated release of all hostages, and imprisoned political activists and children.
We call on the media to accurately report the news on Gaza, and to provide context to the unfolding events, including that Gazans have been under an illegal blockade by Israel for 17 years, and that the Palestinians have been living for 75 years under Israeli military occupation. We call on the media to equally report the toll of the human suffering inflicted on both Israelis and Palestinians.
Please refer to ISA website (https://isaugusta.com/palestine/) for additional resources about the Palestinian issue.
ISA calls on our community to remember our shared humanity and to speak up about the sanctity of all human life, by calling out misinformation and standing firm against the atrocities and war crimes we are witnessing.
