Photo Credit: Justin Higuchi / CC by 2.0
As the death toll climbs from the Israel-Hamas war, several high-profile celebrities have signed an open letter to President Biden, urging the US government to “facilitate a ceasefire” in Gaza.
Several high-profile celebrities have signed an open letter to President Biden, urging the US government to “facilitate a ceasefire” in Gaza as the death toll from the Israel-Hamas war continues to climb.
“We urge your administration, Congress, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay — an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages,” the letter reads in part, signed by artists including Dua Lipa, Diplo, Killer Mike, Michael Stipe, Macklemore, and Vic Mensa, among other artists and actors.
“Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two-thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them,” the letter continues.
“We believe that the United States can play a vital diplomatic role in ending the suffering, and we are adding our voices to those from the US Congress, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, The International Committee of The Red Cross, and so many others. Saving lives is a moral imperative. To echo UNICEF, ‘Compassion — and international law — must prevail.’”
“As of this writing, more than 6,000 bombs have been dropped on Gaza in the last 12 days — resulting in one child being killed every 15 minutes,” reads the letter. “Children and families in Gaza have practically run out of food, water, electricity, medicine, and safe access to hospitals, following days of air strikes and cuts to all supply routes.”
“We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, ‘History is watching.’”
The Israeli and Palestinian conflict escalated following the terrorist attack on October 7 at the Supernova Music Festival in Kibbutz Re’im by Hamas militants, which resulted in the deaths of more than 260 attendees and a number of individuals taken hostage.
Since then, The Washington Post reports that over 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, with over 5,400 injured. Israeli attacks have killed a reported 6,545 people in Gaza and wounded over 17,400.
