Over 500 Democratic staffers urge Biden to hold ‘Israel’ accountable

Washington (QNN)- More than 500 former Democratic Party staffers and organizers have urged President Joe Biden to “hold Israel accountable for its actions” and take “concrete steps” to end Israeli occupation.

“The very same values that motivated us to work countless hours to elect you demand that we speak out in the aftermath of the recent explosive violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, which is inextricable from the ongoing history of occupation, blockade, and settlement expansion,” the staffers wrote in an open letter they signed on Monday.

The staffers and organisers were among those who worked either directly at Biden’s national campaign headquarters, at the Democratic National Committee or at state Democratic parties that worked to campaign for Biden.

Although the signatories praised Biden’s administration for its efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza Strip, they said the administration must hold ‘Israel’ accountable for the large number of Palestinian deaths.

“We commend your efforts to broker a ceasefire. Yet, we also cannot unsee the horrific violence that unfolded in recent weeks in Israel/Palestine, and we implore you to continue using the power of your office to hold Israel accountable for its actions and lay the groundwork for justice and lasting peace.”

“We remain horrified by the images of Palestinian civilians in Gaza killed or made homeless by Israeli airstrikes. We are outraged by Israel’s efforts to forcibly and illegally expel Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. We are shocked by Israel’s destruction of a building housing international news organizations.”

At least 279 Palestinians were killed, including 69 children and 40 women, and 1,910 others injured in the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The staffers also listed a number of demands to Biden, including allow a humanitarian corridor in Gaza to help for the evacuation of the injured, the supply of life-saving medicines, protect Palestinians in occupied territories subject to ongoing violent attacks by Israeli mobs, lift the blockade of Gaza, end settlement expansion in the West Bank, and end the forced expulsions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and from all Palestinian homes across the territories.