FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2024
Contact: Leila Miller | press@indivisible.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today marks the one year anniversary of the horrific October 7th terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis and others, and took several hundred people hostage. It also marks one year since the brutal Israeli military response began, which has killed over 41,000 Palestinians and others, including more than 16,000 children, and caused the mass displacement of nearly every civilian in Gaza. Reflecting on this solemn milestone, Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, issued the following statement:
“Today, we mourn the Israeli, American, and other lives taken in Hamas’ horrific attack of October 7th, and stand with the victims - those who lost their lives, lost family, were taken hostage and have been killed since and those who remain in captivity. We join with the families of remaining hostages in calling for their immediate release and for a ceasefire deal that would bring them home. We recognize the pain of this day for our Jewish community and members, compounded by the rise in antisemitism around the world, and hold in our hearts everyone who is grieving for family or friends lost or harmed.
“In the year since October 7th, the Netanyahu government’s military response has taken an horrendous toll on Gaza’s people, with tens of thousands of civilians killed, overwhelming numbers of families displaced, large-scale risk of starvation, and suffering on an almost unfathomable scale. Again, a ceasefire and step back from the regional escalation currently underway is desperately needed. And we commit ourselves to linking arms with our Muslim and Arab community members to oppose the dangerous rise of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bigotry, both in the US and globally.
“None of this was inevitable. The path to safety and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike depends on a different course.
“The souls lost in the past year deserve a justice that political leadership has not provided. Extremists on both sides of this conflict have put their political agendas ahead of innocent lives. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly undermined efforts to chart a path for peace and security for everyone in the region - instead pursuing a brutal military campaign in Gaza that indiscriminately kills Palestinian civilians, including children, refugees, and hospital patients. While families of Israeli hostages beg him to prioritize the return of their loved ones, he instead puts his own political goals first.
“Netanyahu’s destructive path has unfortunately received continued support and legitimization from the US government, in the form of diplomatic efforts at the UN and through the direct provision and sale of ammunition, bombs, and other military supplies. While humanitarian aid is restricted by Israeli military operations, the weapons continue to flow unabated. This falls short of our human rights obligations, and pushes further into the future the day when everyone in Israel, Palestine and the entire region can live in safety, security, and dignity.
“The October 7th of today is also a day of mourning. A different path has been available and can still be taken. Indivisible continues to urge the Biden administration to use all the tools and leverage at their disposal to put an immediate end to the bloodshed and finally begin working towards peace.”
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ABOUT THE INDIVISIBLE PROJECT
The Indivisible Project (501c4) is a social movement non-profit driven by a vision of a real democracy - of, by, and for the people. Indivisible began in 2016 as a viral guide to resisting Trump’s agenda. Today, the Indivisible movement is a network of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state. The Indivisible Project drives campaigns for bold progressive policies, lobbies Congress, and equips activists with tools to build lasting progressive power, everywhere. Together, we fight to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and build an inclusive democracy