Every day with no ceasefire in Gaza, hundreds of lives are lost, and America’s silence is deafening.
America’s lack of action is eroding its credibility. We are nearly two years into the conflict, and Israel’s campaign against Hamas has taken a devastating toll on Gaza’s innocent civilian population. There have been entire neighborhoods and towns that have vanished completely and left unrecognized due to the attacks. Hospitals have been left collapsed and without the ability to give aid, and humanitarian agencies have been left starved. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, continues to supply weapons and is also urging restraint. The problem is that restraint without results isn’t leadership; it’s simply avoidance.
The U.S. has stood with Israel since 1948 and has provided over $300 billion in economic and military aid, and is set to continue until at least 2028. This is more than the U.S. has given to any other country in history. According to accounts, the U.S. is set to give Israel $3.8 billion each year until 2028. This support has also supported the estimated 65,000 innocent Palestinians killed. The lives lost should raise a moral responsibility for the U.S. and its policymakers.
The American unconditional support leads to America losing credibility and consciousness. It shows that Americans will support a cause at any cost, including lives. This needs to change. America needs to work on building its credibility by standing for human rights just as it stands for saving its arms.
American tax dollars cannot stand to see any more lives lost and should not be used to fund this war any longer but should focus on supporting peace, diplomacy and humanitarian relief.
Jessica Cisneros-Macias, Hyrum
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