Dear Representative: Palestinian Prisoners and Dr. Safiya

My most recent letter to Congress was prompted by the destruction of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, and the subsequent abduction of Dr. Safiya, head of the hospital. Israel has “transferred” Safiya to the infamous and abusive Sde Teiman military base and detention center.

The fact that neither my Congresswoman nor my Senators has issued a press release or commented on this tragedy of intentional destruction of a hospital, and the abduction of the head doctor (and many others, who weren’t immediately and intentionally burned alive) is troubling.

I sent this to my Representative in Congress, and both Senators.

Dear _______,

I’m writing to you as a constituent and as a Jewish American troubled about current actions by Israel. As you know, the last functioning hospital in north Gaza was destroyed last week by Israeli forces, after weeks of besieging and attacking the hospital.

The director of the hospital, Dr. Safiya, has been captured by Israelis and has been taken to one of the most abusive and troubling “detention centers” run by Israel.

I want to remind you that it’s never okay to destroy a hospital, even in wartime or for any military need. “Detainees,” who are really political prisoners, are expected under international law to be treated humanly. It doesn’t matter whether they are expected of terrorism. This applies to all 10,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and many other political prisoners. (See the the information from B’tselem, an Israeli human rights organization: https://www.btselem.org/statistics/detainees_and_prisoners)

I ask that you immediately issue a press release calling for Dr. Safiya’s release, and that you work with your colleagues and the executive branch to free political prisoners now.

Israel’s actions are very troubling to me as a Jew, and as your constituent.

I encourage you to read NBC’s article, which reminds us that “Hospitals and medical workers are considered protected under international law, which states that they must never become targets in warfare.”

Thanks again for your representation,