Thousands urge US to ‘hold Israel accountable’

A petition by the US Campaign to End the Occupation garners over 23,000 signatures in the past few days.

The full text of the petition:

Dear President Obama,

Israel’s government and military must be held accountable for their recent war crimes and massacres of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Thank you for freezing the delivery of Hellfire missiles to Israel and for scrutinizing future weapons transfers. These are important first steps, but much more is needed.

The United States must end military aid and all weapons transfers to Israel, in compliance with the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act, and end its diplomatic support for Israel’s human rights abuses of Palestinians in the UN.

The United States must not obstruct the work of the UN Human Rights Council in investigating violations of international law during Israel’s recent attack on the Gaza Strip, and leaders must be prosecuted and stand trial in the International Criminal Court for the commission of war crimes.

The United States must also work to end Israel’s illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, its 47-year-old military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, for the implementation of Palestinian refugees’ right of return, and equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel.