Will the fiery massacre of displaced civilians in Rafah be the assault that drives our citizenry to demand ceasefire? The slaughter of over 36,000 human beings has not done it. The arrests of over 3,000 students demonstrating for divestment has not done it. The rulings of the International Court of Justice and the potential arrest warrants of Israeli and Hamas leaders by the ICC did not do it. In fact, every time there has been a request for Israel to halt or slow its offensive, the opposite has occurred.
For seven months, world opinion has moved against Israel. Only the United States and a few allies have supported the bombing of civilians.
Our willingness to support the annihilation of Palestinian people and their way of life is intertwined in our economy. The U.S. spends hundreds of billions yearly on the war industry, reaping the benefits of global conflicts in the name of securing our interests.
Students and watchdogs alert us to lobbying money paid to legislators to keep the war industry booming and Israeli interests as top priority. Polls show a rising number of people will not vote for Biden or other Democratic candidates. Yet the arrogance of power refuses to bend towards the will of the people.
We’ve overcome great lies to arrive at this red line. We were told all Palestinians are terrorists, and all Jews are Zionist. Neither are true.
What is true is that people want peace.
What is true is there will be no peace without the majority of people demanding it.
We need a very bold step towards peace. We must find the courage to rise to this urgent moment and say, “No more.” This is our red line.
Compassion for Rafah.
red line. noun a limit beyond which someone’s behavior is no longer acceptable:
let kindness win 