On April 3, 2024, aid workers from World Central Kitchen traveled in the Gaza strip to deliver food aid to Palestinians using a route pre-approved by the Israeli military. They were moving in a caravan of three vehicles, with logos on top of the vehicles. Why would you need a logo on top of a vehicle? You would need it in Gaza, where planes and drones flying overhead identify targets and could avoid blowing up an aid vehicle by spotting the logo. They are intended to keep protected categories of people safe. But, despite advance coordination, Israel bombed not just one but all three of the aid vehicles one after the other. As one was hit, the aid workers moved to the next vehicle, until they ended up in the third vehicle in which all seven were killed. No one has been safe in Gaza.
The head of World Central Kitchen condemned this action by the Israeli military. He was very clear about it not being an accident. The fact that most of the aid workers were European or North American caused this to be a bigger outrage in much of international media than the killing of more than 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7.
Every incident that has unfolded is bringing more eyes to the situation in Palestine and Israel and making people ask questions and want to know more.
The continuing massacres in Gaza and the escalating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem at the hands of settlers and the military make it clearer every day that the global community must come together to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
The behavior of the Israeli state in bombing the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1, killing seven officials, along with the Iranian retaliation, which destroyed some military facilities, terrified millions of people, and injured one person, have brought us closer to a world war.
UUJME calls on Unitarian Universalists everywhere to connect with us and organize together in community in support of ceasefire and justice for Palestinians, and for the U.S. to oppose actions that could lead to serious international consequences for human life.
Connect with UUs organizing for Palestine.
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To get support in starting a UUJME chapter or similar group in your congregation or city/town, email us at [email protected].
