1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

The recent, deliberate assassinations of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces demand your immediate and unequivocal action. On March 24, 2025, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of Al Jazeera’s Hossam Shabat, aged 23, and Palestine Today’s Mohammed Mansour, who was murdered alongside his wife in their own home. These heinous acts have escalated the death toll of journalists in Gaza to over 170 since October ‘23, marking an unprecedented assault on press freedom. (https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/25/hussam_shabat_journalist_killed_gaza) (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/mar/25/journalists-killed-israeli-strikes-hossam-shabat-mohammed-mansour-press-freedom-groups-condemn) Hossam Shabat, a dedicated journalist, left behind a haunting testament: “If you’re reading this, it means I have been killed — most likely targeted — by the Israeli occupation forces. … For [the] past 18 months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people. I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury. I slept on pavements, in schools, in tents — anywhere I could. Each day was a battle for survival. I endured hunger for months, yet I never left my people’s side.” Israel’s brazen labeling of these journalists as “terrorists” is a transparent and contemptible attempt to justify their murders. Press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have vehemently condemned these killings and demanded accountability. The systematic targeting of journalists is not only a flagrant violation of international law but also an affront to the very principles of democracy and free speech. The United States’ continued provision of arms to Israel implicates our nation in these atrocities. It is unconscionable that American-made weapons are being used to silence journalists and perpetuate violence against civilians. By supplying arms to Israel, we are complicit in the suppression of truth and the perpetuation of injustice. Therefore, I demand that you: 1. Vote in favor of all joint resolutions of disapproval to halt the forthcoming arms sale to Israel. Continuing these sales makes the United States an accessory to war crimes and undermines our nation’s commitment to human rights and press freedom. 2. Initiate a comprehensive investigation into Israel’s targeted killings of journalists and civilians, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable in international courts. 3. Reevaluate the United States’ diplomatic and military support for Israel, conditioning any future assistance on demonstrable improvements in human rights practices and adherence to international law. The time for equivocation has passed. Your actions will either affirm our nation’s dedication to justice and human rights or expose a hypocritical tolerance for the slaughter of innocents and the suppression of truth. The world is watching, and history will judge your response.