Dear Congresswoman Chu,
We, the undersigned institutions and organizations representing and serving millions of residents in the 28th Congressional district of California, share individual and collective missions that appeal to dignity and justice for all. As such, we are writing to express our demand for the Honorable Judy Chu to endorse the provisional measures that require Israel to comply with the 1948 Genocide Convention, following the order of the judicial branch of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (Court), that Israel has demonstrably violated the 1948 Genocide Convention.
On January 26, 2024, the Court ruled, by overwhelming measure, that "the State of Israel shall ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit," and "take all measures within its power to prevent," such demonstrated act "under the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, in relation to Palestinians in Gaza," such as: (a) killing; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm; (c) deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births.
The Court further ruled that "Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."
As a party to the 1948 Genocide Convention, the United States is required to "undertake to prevent and punish" the crime of genocide. As Biden has stated, preventing genocide is both a "moral duty and a matter of national and global importance."
The Court cited public reports and accounts from UN special rapporteurs, and representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Programme, Human Rights Watch, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and others, who explained the impacts of Israel’s genocide inside Gaza.
They report that civilians and civilian infrastructure are being targeted, that the vast majority of those killed are women and children, that the bombing is indiscriminate, and that hundreds of thousands of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza are being forcibly displaced, starved and deprived of water, and deprived of medical treatment.
They also report that Palestinians are being killed in their homes and shelters, when they try to flee, and while in Israeli safe zones.
They also report that more than 100,000 Palestinians could die in the days and weeks to come if the bombing does not stop and a massive amount of humanitarian aid is not allowed in.
They also report that the genocidal intent of Israel, and its officials, are well documented. Led by the Prime Minister openly calling for Genocide, military personnel directed to starve Gaza, statements in support for the ‘voluntary immigration’ of Palestinians, and the use of biblical analogies in speeches expressing the permissibility of killing all innocents in war. Each statement is more egregious than the previous.
As of January 25th, 2024:
30,571 Palestinian civilians have been killed, including 13,022 children and 7,160 women
64,150 Palestinians have been injured
117 journalists have been killed
2,000,000 Palestinians have been displaced
75,600 homes have been completely destroyed and 196,700 partially destroyed
328 schools have been damaged
379 churches and mosques have been damaged or destroyed
305 healthcare professionals have been killed and 370 injured
22 hospitals, 62 clinics and 136 ambulances have been destroyed
We hereby demand that the Honorable Judy Chu publicly endorse the following provisions, referenced by the Court, that the State of Israel:
Take all measures to prevent the crime of genocide
Ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit the crime of genocide
Take measures to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide
Enable the immediate humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip
Prevent the destruction and preserve evidence related to the act of genocide
Submit a report to the Court on measures taken to cease and prevent the crime of genocide.
We further demand that the Honorable Judy Chu endorse the following:
The continued failure of our elected representatives to stop the most transparent genocide in human history only serves to continually jeopardize more Palestinian lives, risk an outbreak of regional conflict, diminish the standing of the United States in the International community, and cause the United States to be complicit in the genocide.
We stand in solidarity with those who yearn for peace, security, and a better life,regardless of their country of origin. We similarly call upon all of our elected officials and global leaders to use their influence and diplomatic skills to immediately advocate for the provisional measures to further prevent the Crime of Genocide.
We are committed to continue working with our local partners to promote understanding, education, tolerance, and empathy among diverse communities and to ensure that all members of the Inland Empire can thrive in an atmosphere of peace and security.
Thank you for considering our demands, and we remain at your disposal for any further information or collaboration efforts to end genocide and promote peace and justice in our world.
Sincerely,
[Only organizationl names will be published]
