Tag: Gaza

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya

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Sign the petition to release Dr. Safiya at Amnesty.org

Dear Brigadier General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi,

I hope you and your family, friends, and staff are very well.

I’m writing to you again to urge the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a pediatrician and the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza.

He was taken by Israeli forces on 27 December 2024, along with other hospital staff and patients, during a deadly raid on the hospital, now reduced to rubble. 

Despite his son’s death a year ago this month, Dr. Safiya, 51, shared regular, reliable updates about the deteriorating healthcare and hospital conditions in North Gaza and continued to treat the endless stream of incoming patients. Many of these children died from catastrophic injuries because the heavily bombed hospital no longer had medicine, sterile instruments, bandages, or any of the life-saving equipment it once had.

Amnesty International and other human rights groups have collected testimonies from those who survived imprisonment. The consistent testimonies reveal systematic torture and other abuses, denial of the right to a fair trial, due process, adequate food, clean water, and medical care. I’m deeply concerned about Dr. Safiya’s health and reason for being in prison as he hasn’t been charged with a crime, and independent monitors haven’t been allowed to meet with him.

I’ve never met Dr. Safiya in person, but I know there aren’t enough hours in a day for any man to do more than manage a hospital under constant attack, treat an endless influx of injured and dying children, and try to see his own grieving family. Dr. Safiya is a hospital director, a doctor, and a family man, nothing more.

Without a criminal charge, Dr. Safiya’s detention and ill-treatment are serious violations of international law. Therefore, I once again urge you to secure the immediate release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and the other health workers detained in Israel. Until they’re released, please provide adequate medical care, clean food and water, and protection from torture and other ill-treatment, including coercion.

Since the ceasefire, our world is hopeful again. I trust you also feel this welcome change as we bravely dare to live long and happy lives in peace, together.

With respect and gratitude,

Your Excellency, President Gustavo Petro

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I send best wishes to you and your family, friends, staff, and citizens. 

At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Dialogue of Civilizations, you proposed an army (larger than that of the United States) comprised of soldiers from all willing nations to enforce the orders of international justice starting with the liberation of Palestine. You said, “Here humanity has been challenged and humanity must respond.”

Because the gears of change grind slowly, would you help mobilize willing nations to send their naval ships to the Global Sumud Flotilla now? I understand Italy has sent two naval ships and Spain has sent one, equipped with a helicopter. 

I want to do something, anything, but I don’t know what. I know only that you’re right, that humanity must respond. 

Mr. President, I respectfully urge you to use your powers to mobilize nations for Palestine, including you own, to send naval vessels to ensure safe passage for the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying only survival aid and innocent civilians desperately trying to open a humanitarian gateway to Gaza. 

Respectfully, 

Mo Chara is free

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Mo Chara of Kneecap was cleared of terror charges today as naval ships from Italy and Spain join the humanitarian Global Sumud Flotilla (recovering from more chemical and explosive drone strikes) now off the coast of Koufonisi, south of Crete.

Also on this day, most of the 150 delegates at the 80th United Nations General Assembly walked out on Prime Minister Netanyahu, who then spoke to a nearly empty assembly hall. Colombian President Gustavo Petro stood on a street in New York City (with Roger Waters of the former Pink Floyd) and called for an army larger than that of the United States to be comprised of soldiers from all willing nations to enforce the orders of international justice starting with the liberation of Palestine. He said, “Here humanity has been challenged and humanity must respond.”

On Thursday, United States President Donald Trump said he “will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.”

Of the 193 United Nations member states, 157 recognize an independent state of Palestine. People around the world continue to protest crimes against Palestinians while the estimated number of deaths in Gaza exceeds 160,000 people of which more than 20,000 were children.

Guarding or owning animals, parenting children, teaching students, treating patients, employing workers, these all involve some autonomy and independence, but within the law and protections of human rights. A nation’s self defense must be proportional and no state has any right to target and starve, torture, psychologically harm or kill innocent people.

Humanity must respond, but how does the average person intervene in genocide? I don’t know. I emailed the Turkish Embassy and urged President Recep Tayip Erdoğan to mobilize partnerships in the region and call on National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler to assist in safe passage for the Global Sumud Flotilla. I emailed President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, President Donald Trump, and President Gustavo Petro to respectfully request the same, assistance for the safe passage of the flotilla crew and survival aid to Gaza.

On board the humanitarian flotilla, Tadgh Hickey titled one of his videos, “Do something before we’re murdered.” I read that to mean all of us.

Mo chara is “my friend” in Irish, and I think it would be a beautiful thing to live in a world where we could say about all innocent people everywhere, mo chara is free, my friend is free.

Your Excellency, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi

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I hope you, your family, friends, staff and fellow citizens are very well.

I wish to respectfully share an urgent consideration for you and His Excellency, Mr. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly as he represents Egypt at the United Nations General Assembly convening now in New York.

As you know, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to a safe and stable Middle East, and underscored the significance of the New York declaration to renew the international community’s commitment to the right of the Palestinian people to an independent state. Prime Minister Madbouly also stated that what is required of the UN delegates today is to take practical steps toward a lasting peace process.

As one of the many steps toward peace, will you and your key delegates find a way to join Turkey and other nations in securing safe passage of food, water, and medicine onboard the Global Sumud flotilla to Gaza? Their boats are approaching Egypt and Turkey today.

Of course meaningful protections against terrorism and ensuring national security in all countries must follow, but as mounting international evidence reveals, time has run out for civilians in Gaza as they struggle to escape death. Can we, as fellow human beings, narrow our focus and momentarily mute the politics to ensure the Sumud flotilla reaches shore without harm?

We’re no longer talking about humanitarian aid, if we were, we wouldn’t be mourning the tens of thousands of people, including 20,000 children, who have died for nothing. All we can claim to deliver now is survival aid, the bare minimum of water, food, and medicine, and a path forward for desperately needed emergency medical equipment and supplies, safe shelter, and reliable transport. For too many innocent people this is far too late, but for those who remain, with nothing left but dust, maybe this is enough for one more day. 

Without delay, please call on your partnerships in the region to ensure that the Sumud flotilla safely reaches Gaza.

With hope and gratitude,

Nancy Kivette

P.S. I hope you can pardon the avenue of this message; I tried to email through Share an Idea on the presidential website, but didn’t find the option for United States, thank you.