If there were any doubt at the outset, the true nature of Israel’s campaign in Gaza should be clear: ethnic cleansing or population transfer.

In the wake of the heinous and ill-considered attack by Hamas three months ago, Israel has lost no time in making Gaza an uninhabitable wasteland. Twenty-two thousand are dead, a third of those children and 100 journalists have been killed, and 90% of the housing is unusable.

The living have to fend for themselves unsheltered, unprotected from the relentless bombing, and forced to fend for themselves and their families without dependable water, food, fuel or health care. Healthcare workers and the ambulances they staff are regularly strafed.

Israel has made its intentions public: as much as possible, either kill or drive out the Gazans. It has opened negotiations to see if the Democratic Republic of the Congo will take Gazans (The Times of Israel, 3 Jan. 3); Defense Minister Smotrich has talked about reducing the population occupying Gaza by 90% to make it more governable. Moreover, Israel has no plans to rebuild Gaza or let anyone else do it, even though this is territory they occupy and control.

Israelis are entitled to their anger, desire for justice, and even revenge against Hamas, but targeting an entire population is immoral and criminal. We should call on our lawmakers to end our complicity by ending the American military support that makes much of this possible.

Steve Bien, Jay

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