In a Jan. 23 open letter, 210 U.S. Congresspeople from both parties accused South Africa of attempting to delegitimize Israel through its “grossly unfounded case, dismissing the legal action as a “meritless attraction,” per The Citizen.

We are deeply disappointed that the House member from the Second District of Maine, Jared Golden, signed this letter.

The International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest court, ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts in Gaza.

Clearly, the ICJ judges, led by President of the Court Joan Donoghue — an American lawyer, international legal scholar and former U.S. State Department official — believes, based on evidence and testimony, that the charge of genocide is founded and has merit. It’s terrible merit to have.

The case against the actions of Israel has to do with its violent assault on Gaza that has caused the deaths of over 25,000 people in over three months. The case is about seeking an end to the violent and highly lethal, illegal, immoral assault on a civilian population without defenses or food and shelter. The court correctly concluded that a genocide charge matches the facts.

It’s time for our elected officials to accept this reality, stop their denial and excuses for it. It’s past time for our government to take concrete steps to stop our government’s support and contribution to it, and to bring the genocide to an immediate halt.

It’s illegal and immoral to do otherwise.

Ed Ferreira, New Sharon