SHARE CU MAC welcomes the news of a ceasefire in Gaza, reaffirms commitment to Palestinian rights and self-determination in Champaign Urbana, and invites the community to join its efforts to ensure this recent escalation is the last Palestinians have to endure.
Champaign Urbana Muslim Action Committee (CU MAC) welcomes the recent ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel as a vital first step toward halting the devastating violence that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. As we celebrate this breath of relief, we remember our work continues.
This ceasefire follows more than a year of relentless violence, leaving a trail of destruction and immeasurable suffering. Reports from organizations like The Lancet indicate staggering death tolls, far higher than previously estimated, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and justice. Palestinians in Gaza returning to their homes are returning to mounds and mounds of rubble while Palestinians in the West Bank are still facing violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and Israeli forces. Palestinians have experienced cycles of escalated violence followed by tense ceasefires for over 75 years in response to their resistance to occupation.
“As a Palestinian, I am so grateful to the end of this cycle of violence and find joy in Palestinians in Gaza rejoicing over the relative calm,” shares CU MAC member, Dua Aldasouqi, “but we know our work is even more important now. As, Ahmad AlShaer, a Palestinian chef and writer in Gaza, reminds us: ‘A ceasefire is a break for us Gazans, not for the rest of the world.’”
CU MAC calls on international bodies, including the International Criminal Court, to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable and calls on Champaign City Council, amongst all national and local bodies, to join the Palestinian call for divestment to ensure this never happens again.
CU MAC reaffirms its commitment to Palestinian rights and self-determination. We urge all our community members to remain engaged, informed, and vocal in supporting efforts to achieve long-term peace and dignity for all. To learn more, join our newsletter: bit.ly/CUpalupdates
First ceasefire. Then lift the siege. Then end the occupation. Then liberation.