Ali Abu Alia — shot and killed during his 15th birthday party.
The Latest Victim of Israeli Military Violence: 15-year-old Ali Abu Alia
CODEPINK
(December 4, 2020) — The Israeli military has gunned down yet another Palestinian child, 15-year-old Ali Abu Alia. That Ali’s death will not be in vain, please take a moment to ask Congress to condition US military assistance to Israel so it not be used to destroy young Palestinian lives!
He was only 15, excited to celebrate his birthday with a cake and a party with his family. He was watching with horror as the Israeli military attacked protestors in his village. Then he was fatally shot in the stomach.
Last weekend, Ali Abu Alia became the fifth Palestinian child to be killed by live ammunition from the Israeli military this year. Tragically, he is unlikely to be the last. The United States sends $3.8 billion to the Israeli military every year. Not only does that money directly fund a 53-year-long military occupation, but it supplies US weapons to kill and maim Palestinians, including children.
According to Jeff Klein in Mondoweiss, between 2008 and 2011, live-fire rounds of Ruger’s .22 caliber sniper rifles, manufactured in Newport, NH, killed at least six Palestinians. Their names: 17-year-old Kusai al-Afrandi, 10-year-old Ahmad Musa, 20-year-old Mohammed Khawaje, 22-year-old Mohammed Hamid, 14-year-old Izzedine al-Jamal, and 36-year-old Yusuf Aqel. Now, Ali Abu Alia, killed on his 15th birthday, joins the list of those murdered.
Israel began importing Ruger .22 sniper rifles for “riot control” during the First Intifada, arguing that these weapons were “less lethal,” but Ali’s murder proves otherwise.
Tell Congress to stop allowing US dollars to fund Israel’s abuse and murder of children. Tell them to support McCollum’s work to hold Israel (and Sturm, Ruger Co.) accountable for taking young Ali’s life.
Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota’s vital legislation is designed to protect the lives and basic human rights of Palestinian youth. H.R. 2407, the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, would prohibit US dollars from being used to fund the “detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children.”
We can’t decide what’s more shameful: that her legislation is even necessary in the first place, or that thus far it has received so little support.
Upon the killing of Ali, Betty McCullum called on “the incoming Biden administration to fully investigate and verify to the American people that no US taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel provided material assistance enabling this taking of a child’s life.”
The EU Delegation to the Palestinians and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov called for an investigation and reaffirmed that “children enjoy special protection under international law,” and UNICEF released a statement asking Israel to ”fully respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of all children and refrain from using violence against children, in accordance with International law.”
With US military assistance that includes no accountability, Israel has proven that it will neither respect international law nor the rights of children, even the right to live. We can’t have more children suffer the same tragic fate as Ali and all the Palestinian youth who like him have died at the hands of Israel’s military.
May Ali’s memory be a catalyst for Congress to support H.R. 2407.
Towards justice for Ali,
Ariel, Ann, Angela, Carley, Caty, Cody, Danaka, Emily, Farida, Jodie, Kelsey, Leila, Leonardo, Maxine, Mary, Medea, Nancy, Paki, Teri, and Yousef
ACTION: Sign the petition to Congress demanding support for H.R. 2407, Rep. Betty McCollum’s legislation to protect the lives and human rights of Palestinian children!
(US residents: Take your actions one step further by sending an email directly and calling your Representative and asking them to add their names to H.R. 2407.)
THE LETTER
We, the undersigned, write to you with extreme sorrow and outrage by the murder of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy, Ali Abu Alia, by Israeli forces. Ali is just the latest victim of decades of violent oppression suffered by the Palestinian people, funded by the US military assistance to Israel. I urge you to support Rep. Betty McCullum’s efforts to condition this military aid that it will not go to the violence, detention, and abuse of Palestinian children.
Ali, a child of only 15 years, was completely innocent, yet still he became the fifth Palestinian child to be killed by Israeli live ammunition this year. He was observing a clash in his village between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces when he was fatally shot in the stomach. The United States sends $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel every year, yet the American people have no oversight as to what this money supports and if it funds the oppression and abuse of Palestinian children.
Representative Betty McCollum’s legislation, H.R. 2407, the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, would prohibit US dollars from being used to fund the “detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children.”
This vital legislation would protect the most basic human rights of children living under Israeli occupation, including the right to live and grow up without the constant threat of violence and abuse.
Please support this important piece of legislation in the House and introduce compatible legislation in the Senate. The passage of such legislation would be an excellent first step toward ending the oppression and suffering of Palestinian children.
It is far past time for the US to stop funding the tragic and senseless murders of children like Ali. Please have a heart for Palestinian children and support Betty McCollum’s legislation to end their abuse.
Sincerely
