Urgent Action for Palestinian Human Rights

Good News! A nine-month-old baby girl, Sadeel suffering from liver failure, was successfully evacuated from Gaza on June 27th along with 20 other patients.  Sadeel was one of the cases brought forward by our advocacy team in their Contact Congress Campaign. We thank all the supporters who sent letters to their offices asking for intervention. 

In early May, before the Rafah crossing was closed, Sadeel received approval to travel out of Rafah with all the necessary security clearances and medical arrangements. The UK-based NGO Children Not Numbers was managing Sadeel's case. Rebuilding Alliance reached out to Congressional offices to request intervention, urging them to make calls to the State Department and the Israeli embassy to ensure the safe evacuation of Sadeel and her family.

Over the past few months, the advocacy team at Rebuilding Alliance has been leading a Contact Congress Advocacy Campaign, urging for medical evacuations for thousands of critically ill and injured individuals in Gaza, particularly for Sadeel. Currently, our team is on Capitol Hill meeting with Congressional offices. So far, the team has conducted 56 in-person and online briefings for House and Senate Offices, engaging with both Democrats and Republicans.

On June 26th, 2024 Rebuilding Alliance organized a briefing, "U.S. Doctor's Eyewitness in Gaza: Asking Congress to Intervene" in Washington DC to hear the harrowing testimonies of four American doctors who recently returned from a medical mission to Gaza. Dozens of staff members from congressional offices joined to listen to the eyewitness accounts. The doctors shared their experience, along with photos of horrifying injuries and unworkable conditions. One of the doctors, Dr. Mark Perlmutter, stated that "the level of carnage is indescribable."

Josh Paul, Former Director of Congressional and Public Affairs at the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, was one of the panelists. The panel made four demands to Congress: 1) a ceasefire; 2) allow medical evacuations; 3) permit humanitarian aid entry into Gaza and establish medical infrastructure; and 4) enforce U.S. law. The event received wide media coverage, and Rebuilding Alliance’s Advocacy Director was also cited on the subject.

Leadership Learning Mission 7.0

In February, Rebuilding Alliance brought three Senate StaffDel accompanied by their constituents on a Leadership Learning Mission to Jerusalem and the West Bank.  During the visit to the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) to learn about their work to coordinate aid to Gaza and the West Bank, there was a call came from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) demanding that Nasser Hospital be evacuated in 24 hours.  It was then Rebuilding Alliance decided to launch a Contact Congress Advocacy Campaign to press for medical access. 

Before the Gaza War

In September, Rebuilding Alliance brought the fifth “I Care About Peace” Youth Delegation to Congress, the first delegation after COVID. Four Palestinian young adults from the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem traveled to the U.S. and described their experiences. 

• Their insight informed members of Congress to look into compliance with the reciprocity requirements of the visa waiver program, with the issues of settler violence against towns, and with safeguarding Palestinian local schools.
• The Palestinian Youth Delegation met key offices on the Hill and spoke directly to Representatives Rachida Tlaib, Betty McCollum, and Pramila Jayapal. They also addressed a live-streamed Congressional Roundtable hosted by FCNL and a Congressional Reception in the Rayburn foyer. 
• They traveled on a speaking tour meeting with local congressional offices alongside constituents from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and up to New York. 

Thank you for all that you do. As always, feel free to reply to this email with any questions or suggestions.

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWtfuls5rHQ