Demand Progress

A shocking new report in The Lancet says the death toll in Gaza could be up to 186,000 since the beginning of the conflict in October.¹

While the current reported death toll is around 38,000, The Lancet study attempts to calculate all of the “indirect” deaths from the conflict based on these death levels in other conflicts. The study is based on “the intensity of this conflict; destroyed health-care infrastructure; severe shortages of food, water, and shelter; the population's inability to flee to safe places; and the loss of funding to UNRWA.”²

And the Israeli military continues to ramp up its attacks on the people of Gaza while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to block a diplomatic peace deal to end the violence.

Add your name: Urge Congress to call on the Biden administration to broker a permanent ceasefire now!

Prime Minister Netanyahu presented a new set of “non-negotiables” in ceasefire talks, including allowing Israel to keep attacking Gaza. That’s not a ceasefire. Netanyahu has done everything he can to scuttle peace talks since they started.³

Half a million people in Gaza face starvation, and famine remains a risk amid Israel’s military campaign.⁴ The Israeli military has cut off humanitarian aid, killed aid workers, and attacked tent camps of displaced people. And Israel continues its siege on Gaza City, all backed by thousands and thousands of weapons provided by the U.S. since the start of the conflict.⁵

Hamas' attacks beginning on October 7 must be condemned but Israel's response has been disproportionate and taken an extraordinary civilian toll — all while America has supplied the bombs and funding Israel has used to kill tens of thousands of Palestinians.

The U.S. must end its complicity with the violence against the people of Gaza, broker a permanent ceasefire deal and stop sending weapons to Israel.

Add your name: Urge Congress to call on the Biden administration to broker a permanent ceasefire now and end weapons sales to Israel.

Sources:

1. The Lancet, "Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essentials,” July 5, 2024.
2. Ibid.
3. USA Today, "Netanyahu says Gaza ceasefire deal must let Israel resume fighting until war goals met,” July 7, 2024.
4. New York Times, "Gaza Famine Warning Spurs Calls to Remove Restrictions on Food Shipments,” June 25, 2024.
5. Reuters, "Exclusive: US has sent Israel thousands of 2,000-pound bombs since Oct. 7,” June 29, 2024.