Refugee Congress Alarmed by Bombing of Jabalia Refugee Camp, Calls for Ceasefire and Humanitarian Access

For immediate release: November 2, 2023

At Refugee Congress, an organization built and led by people who know firsthand what it means to be forcibly displaced, we are deeply troubled by the brutality that has unfolded in the past three weeks in Gaza and Israel. Following weeks of horrific violence that claimed the lives of more than 1,400 Israeli and 9,000 Palestinian civilians, we are alarmed to see a military escalation that has displaced 50% of the population in one of the most densely populated areas in the world, including Israeli airstrikes this week that killed more than 50 Palestinian refugees and counting in the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza. 

We unequivocally condemn the targeting of civilians, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. As leaders who are committed to creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive communities at local, state, national, and international levels, we are also alarmed by how this conflict has fueled the rapid rise of Islamophobia and antisemitism in the US and across the globe.

Our hearts are in mourning for each and every family that has suffered the loss of loved ones and of their homes. Indifference must never be an option, and people who are forcibly displaced are protected under international conventions. We must ensure the safety and security of all civilians, regardless of their nationality or background.

In war, it is always civilians who pay the worst price. We strongly urge the Biden administration, global governments, and the international community to abide by humanitarian principles and press for a ceasefire that will bring critical humanitarian aid and resources into Gaza, facilitate the immediate release of all hostages, and open a dialogue towards a lasting peace and just solution to a conflict that has seen too many decades of devastation.

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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.

MEDIA CONTACT: media@refugeecongress.org