Palestinians in Gaza are dying. We are sending the weapons

The war in Gaza is well into its tenth month. It’s no longer new news, summer has brought a sharp decline in university demonstrations, and we are in danger of accepting as normal this hellish calamity. Civilians are being detained, displaced and killed every day, with the death count over 38,000. Millions face starvation. Entire communities are being wiped off the earth.

Schools, mosques, churches, hospitals and homes have been destroyed. Over 80% of Gazans have been internally displaced, most more than once. With over 2 million people, the Gaza strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Words and statistics cannot convey the ongoing horror.

Many of the bombs and shells and the planes and drones that deliver them are gifts from the U.S. to Israel. Since March, we have given Israel $3.8 billion annually for military use. In April, we gave another $12 Billion for weapons and ammo. This was all paid for by the U.S. taxpayers. It added to our national debt, so our children and grandchildren will be paying for the devices that kill Palestinian children today.

Mainstream media reports are often one-sided, with carefully selected sound bites and dramatic images. There is seldom any in-depth analysis or follow-up or historical perspective. False equivalence and innuendo have become the norm.

Netanyahu is not Israel. Israel is not the embodiment of the Jewish religion. Criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country must not be regarded as antisemitic. Pro-Palestinian protesters and writers are not antisemitic solely by virtue of criticizing the actions of Israel. The charge of antisemitism is being used to quash free speech, and can have the ironic effect of dulling the outrage that must be directed at antisemitism.

Veterans are very familiar with the dictum that truth is the first casualty of war. It is our responsibility as citizens to seek out the truth, as unpleasant as it may be. Veterans For Peace decries the intentional killing of civilians, whether by Hamas, the Israeli military, or Israeli settlers.

From Washington we hear “We stand with Israel.” Blind loyalty and slogans too often lead to atrocities like we are seeing now. Our government criticizes and cajoles Israel, calls for more humanitarian aid and hopes there will be fewer civilians killed. But, it never takes the steps necessary for this calamity to end: cease all arms deliveries to Israel and declare it will no longer give diplomatic cover to Israel’s war. Such steps would bring criticism, but it is time to set political calculations aside and do the right thing. Even after nine months, doing the right thing may be good politics and a step forward for the U.S.’ standing in the world.

The killing must end. We must do the right thing. We must become truly informed and use our focused outrage to demand the U.S. halt its complicity in this horror and use its leverage to stop it. To start, go to whitehouse.gov/contact and send your message to President Biden.

David Quegg Iowa City

Rick Chambers Iowa City

David Hempel Iowa City

John Fyotek Iowa City

John Ivens, Chrystal River, FL

Pamela Fitzgerald Iowa City

Bob Mueller, Mt. Pleasant

John Jadryev, Iowa City

Art Roche, Dubuque

Matt Erickson, Davenport

Ross Porch, Iowa City

Quinn Dilkes, Iowa City

Pat Bowen, Iowa City

Patrick Bosold, Fairfield

Mary Martin, Boyce, VA

Patrick Cummings, Davenport

Barbara Zilles, Iowa City

Mike Finley, Iowa City

Sam Bakken, Iowa City

Dennis Bricker, Iowa City

Tom Emerick, Muscatine

Louis DeGrazia, Iowa City

Joe Michaud, Iowa City

Tony Currin, Iowa City

Harold Frakes, Brighton

Frank Potter, Dubuque

David Martin, Iowa City

Jerry Bloomer, Burlington

Leonard Sandler, Iowa City

Gordon Goldsmith, Iowa City

Joe Aossey, Cedar Rapids

Laila Aossey, Cedar Rapids

Jim Laughlin, West Branch

Kathy McGowan, Iowa City

Robert Fischer, Decorah

John Christenson, Coralville

Ed Flaherty of Iowa City is the president of Veterans for Peace Chapter #161.