T Shirts for Peace

On October 7th 2023 Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel. 1200  Israeli civilians were killed on that day. Since then 840 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives,  52,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel–Hamas war, so-far, the majority being civilians.

Starting on March 19th, the cease-fire was a ray of hope.  The people of Gaza were safer, although there was some aid entering the territory, they continued to face starvation dehydration and disease.  The agreement was to have a 6-week halt to the bombing and exchange Palestinian prisoners for hostages. 33 Israeli Hostages were released and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were also released. The plan was to continue to a second phase, when a permanent cease-fire would go into place, negotiations for which would start during the first phase. 

After the initially planned date of the first phase, on March 1st. Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend the first phase (temporary cease-fire) and release more Israeli hostages. Hamas also rejected a US proposal to extend the !st phase through the Ramadan and Passover holidays. Hamas instead wanted to continue 2nd Phase negotiations,  Following the rejections, Israel again blocked the entry of all aid coming in starting March 2. The UN and mediators  Egypt and Qatar, condemned this action as a violation of the ceasefire, which stipulated that phase one would automatically be extended as long as phase two negotiations were in progress., Electricity was stopped March 9th on order from Israeli energy minister Eli Cohen. All medical and food aid has been blocked from entering Gaza since March 2nd to date. 

International humanitarian law mandates that an occupying power has an obligation to use all means available to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population under its control are met. 

On 18 March 2025, Israel began surprise airstrikes breaking the ceasefire.  PM Netanyahu declared a few hours later:  Israel has "resumed combat in full force" against Hamas in Gaza. 

In the last few days Mr. Netanyahu has announced that his Security Cabinet has announced a plan to expand and intensify Israel’s military operation. British MP Hamish Falconer, said in Parliament that  reports suggest that this plan  could include “full military occupation. Mr Netanyahu said Gaza’s population will be  “moved for it’s protection” 

Perhaps some 2 dozen Israelis and some Americans are still held hostage. They are held in conditions tantamount to torture, However, in MP Falconer’s words, “expansion of the conflict is not the route to achieve their (hostages) safe return”. Hostage families oppose this, Only negotiations are the best hope for ending the suffering of these poor souls. 

No food aid has come in in over 2 months, The World Food Program says that their food stockpile has been exhausted 

All are suffering.

Despite this,  International Rescue Committee’s partners on the ground, Juzoor, continues to provide medical aid. It’s still unclear how and when food aid can come in