Doctors tell us that food itself cannot save those already impacted
by starvation. In fact, sudden intake of food without sophisticated
medical care could put victims at even further risk of permanent
disability and death. Experts call this “refeeding syndrome," and
teams of medical professionals and working hospitals are needed to
prevent it from causing paralysis, respiratory distress, heart
attacks, brain damage, and organ failure.
This is why, when we call for resumption of food aid, we
must also demand an immediate ceasefire and medical access for the
world’s doctors and health professionals to the whole of
Gaza.
While Bend the Arc’s work is focused here in the United States, the
urgency of this situation — and my Jewish values — make it a moral
imperative for me as a Jewish leader to speak out, especially because
devastation abroad threatens everything we’re fighting for here at
home. We as Jews are not only commanded to feed the hungry, but to
repair the conditions that create the hunger — in this case, U.S.
support for the Israeli government’s siege of 2.2 million
Palestinians.
Since Jews
for Food Aid for People in Gaza began months ago, the
Israeli government itself confirmed what we all already knew. Hunger
in Gaza is a deliberate strategy by those who control every aspect of
Palestinian life: the Israeli government, its primary (often solo)
global backer, the Trump regime, and the lawmakers enabling the
situation.
People of every faith should be demanding action, but Jews — whose
safety is being co-opted in order to justify what is happening — must
be the loudest. This is the time to insist with moral clarity.
We urge you to continue signing up your Jewish friends,
congregations, and organizations to end the blockade of food and aid
at foodaidforgaza.org.
Real lives depend on it.
In solidarity,
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