Now it is time for heroic efforts for Peace

The war in Gaza must end. A cease-fire is the last hope for limiting what is already an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe. A cease-fire is also the only chance to forestall the spread of a regional war in which United States forces are already enmeshed. More war will produce only more deaths.

- Jesse Jackson

The brutal Hamas terror attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 triggered a relentless Israeli assault on Gaza and increased violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The desire for vengeance is understandable.

But vengeance cannot lead to Peace--only to increased fear and hatred.

The assault on Gaza has produced an unimaginable human calamity. More than 22,000 Gazans have been killed, nearly half of them women and children. More than 50,000 have been wounded. Eighty-five percent of Gazans have been forced from their homes. Sixty percent of the housing stock in Gaza has been destroyed. Between Oct. 9 and Oct. 21, Israel imposed a complete siege on Gaza – cutting off access to electricity, food, water, and fuel. Under international pressure, some humanitarian aid has been allowed since Oct. 21 but nowhere near what is needed to forestall the spreading of starvation and disease. Now, UN officials are warning that literally hundreds of thousands are on the verge of death.