AFT Officers on Crisis in Gaza

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus issued the following statement in response to the increasingly dire situation in Gaza:

“We are gravely concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing war there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems intent on using food as a weapon to further his own political needs. Using food as a weapon is both immoral and illegal under any measure of international law.

“We join with dozens of Israeli human and civil rights organizations who demand a ceasefire and call for ‘the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages’ by Hamas. We agree wholeheartedly with these Israeli nongovernmental groups that ‘simultaneously, Israel must immediately stop its attacks, cease its policy of starvation, open the crossings for entry of aid to Gaza, and allow aid organizations in the Strip to carry out their work.’

“We call on President Trump and Congress to ensure that access for the Gazan people to food and other necessary humanitarian aid is quickly facilitated by Israel in a realistic and humane manner.

“Food must never be used as a weapon against innocent civilian populations. This war must end now. A political and peaceful resolution urgently must be found for both Israelis and Palestinians.”