As a survivor of the siege of Sarajevo, I know the terror of living under constant bombardment, sniper fire, hunger and fear. I know what it's like to be forgotten by the world leaders.

Thirty years later, my heart is breaking once again witnessing starvation, death and destruction of the Palestinian people and Israeli hostages in Gaza, carried out amidst shocking levels of dehumanization. No child, no family, no city and no people should endure this ever again.

This is not politics. This is humanity. We are part of a Sisterhood that has shown the world how to love and uphold peace across lines of difference .Let us now be the Sisterhood that intervenes for life and humanity.

As Sisters let’s speak up and demand decisive action to stop the starvation of men, women and children in Gaza by calling for: 

• Enough food, water and medicine for every single man, woman and child,  both Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza.

• Medical and humanitarian access to everyone in Gaza and protection of the people including protection from refeeding syndrome. 

• An immediate and permanent end to the siege of Palestinians and end to the occupation of Palestinian lands and people

• A halt to the unconditional supply of weapons

From Bosnia to Gaza—Never Again must mean something!

This moment calls for action now! There are a few ways you can make a difference in this moment: 

• • Contact the White House and ask our President to stop the starvation.
  • Contact your representative or visit in person to make your voice heard. You can find your local congressional representative’s contact information and location of offices here and your Senator’s information here.

• Donate in order to invest in the provision of urgent aid. 

• • For food aid, check out World Central Kitchen or Anera
  • For medical aid, you can donate directly to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, here or to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders here. 
  • The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is also actively delivering medicine, food and water to children and families in Gaza. You can go here to donate.  
  • For shelter and sanitation needs, you can donate to Clean Shelter here.
• Join our partners at Combatants for Peace in their Hunger Strike for Gaza here (scroll down for English). 
• Organize action in your community. Raise your voice.
• Share this call with other sisters, your chapter and with allies and take action together! 

Both Muslim and Jewish faith traditions obligate us to work to alleviate hunger and save lives. As women of faith, it is a moral imperative that we not stand silent. Please join us! 

Sincerely,

Tahija Vikalo and the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom

 

Let us walk in the footsteps of our sisters in humanity:

“We walked when we had no transportation, we fasted when water was unaffordable, we held hands in the face of danger, we spoke truth to power when everyone else was being diplomatic, we stood under the rain and the sun with our children to tell the world the stories of the other side of the conflict.”

Leymah Gbowee, in her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. Ms. Gbowee led the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace which united Muslim and Christian women to stop the second civil war in Liberia).