Israel’s Defense Minister met with the Biden administration and promised a retaliatory strike against Iran that would be “lethal, precise and surprising.”1 This comes just days after an Israeli strike in Lebanon killed 10 firefighters trying to put out a fire from an earlier Israeli bombing.2
Our leaders, from President Biden to Congress, have let Israel’s relentless onslaught on the people of Gaza continue for a year, killing tens of thousands of civilians. The Biden administration is not even advocating for a ceasefire in Lebanon.3
America’s support for Netanyahu’s war on Gaza helped balloon Israeli aggression into a ground invasion of Lebanon. It’s time for our leaders to stop support for Israel’s military and stop war from breaking out with Iran.
Netanyahu has rejected Ceasefire deals throughout the war on Gaza. Israel’s recent airstrikes in Gaza and Beirut, and ground invasion in Lebanon, were part of a misguided, deadly plan of “escalation to de-escalation.”4 That escalation led Iran to fire missiles into Israel. Now Netanyahu is threatening retaliation against Iran, which could spiral into a catastrophic war across the Middle East and drag the U.S. military into hostilities.
Hamas’s attacks beginning on October 7 must be condemned but Israel’s response has been disproportionate and taken an extraordinary civilian toll — all while America has supplied the bombs and funding Israel has used to kill tens of thousands of Palestinians.
There have been countless options on the table for diplomatic peace deals that would free hostages and end the violence against the Palestinian people. But Netanyahu has refused peace — and our elected leaders have continued sending Israel funding and weapons. That must end, so this illegal and immoral war can end.
Sign the petition: No war with Iran. De-escalate now and block weapons sales to Israel.
Thanks for taking action,
Joey and the team at Demand Progress
Sources:
- Reuters, “Biden, Netanyahu speak, Israel vows lethal retaliation against Iran,” October 9, 2024.
- BBC, “Israeli strike kills 10 firefighters in south Lebanon, authorities say,” October 7, 2024.
- Al Jazeera, “Israel ‘escalates to de-escalate’ with Hezbollah,” September 27, 2024.
- CNN, “US is not currently pushing to revive Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal, officials say,” October 7, 2024.
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