STOP the war in Lebanon! Will you demand Congress end this ethnic cleansing? Please sign our petition to support new policies I introduced to stop the U.S.-backed Israeli military’s illegal invasion of Lebanon.

 WHO’s Frontline Shift, Episode 3: Delivering Primary Healthcare in Gaza, explores how health workers delivered care amid access constraints, power outages, shortages of medical supplies, and hostilities, while working to maintain essential services. It also highlights the challenges they continue to face and the need to rehabilitate and rebuild the health system.‍ ‍

Use this tool from JVP Action to email Congress now and demand they support Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's legislation to recognize Israel’s genocide in Gaza, end U.S. complicity in these atrocities, and demand accountability. 

This week’s update summarizes new publications on health and human rights in Palestine.

As predicted in our statement condemning the US/Israel attack on Iran, hospitals and other medical facilities have been repeatedly targeted. (Drop Site 3/2) The war has also diverted attention to the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza.

The JVP Health Advisory Council strongly condemns the illegal war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran. As health care workers, we understand clearly that imperialist wars of aggression historically have led to large numbers of civilians injured and killed, the destruction of civilian infrastructure including health care institutions, and the poisoning of the environment with toxic military detritus.

10/2023 to 1/1/26, 84 Palestinian prisoners and detainees of known identity, including one minor, died in Israeli prisons or detention facilities. B’tselem has issued a report, “Living Hell: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps.”

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Israel continues to violate the 10/10 ceasefire with daily demolitions of residential buildings, farmland and public infrastructure, as well as military strikes on tent camps, homes, agricultural lands and public gathering places. Palestinian sea access and fishing remain prohibited. 

Ceasefire: the use of bombing, shelling, shooting, starvation, and exposure to severe weather to kill Palestinians. To celebrate 3 months of ceasefire, the US announced the $1 billion-per-member Board of Peace, which includes Netanyahu but no Palestinians. Israel celebrated by bulldozing the United Nations/ UNWRA compound in occupied East Jerusalem. 

After more than 80 days into the so-called ceasefire agreement, signed 10/25, Israel continues to kill and injure Palestinians across the Gaza Strip while bombing, shelling and destroying areas across the vague yellow line – a line which is constantly moving further westwards.

Support Mary Bassett, public health and human rights leader, removed from her position at Harvard for speaking out against genocide. Sign a petition here.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has introduced an historic Congressional resolution that recognizes the Israeli government’s genocide against Palestinians and calls for accountability. Already joined by 20 colleagues, we need to push our elected officials to sign and demand an end to US complicity in Israeli atrocities now. Here

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has introduced an historic Congressional resolution that recognizes the Israeli government’s genocide against Palestinians and calls for accountability. Already joined by 20 colleagues, we need to push our elected officials to sign and demand an end to US complicity in Israeli atrocities now.

The US has given $30 billion in weapons to Israel in the past 2 years but can’t authorize food for people here by funding SNAP? If rationality can’t move your recalcitrant Congressperson, maybe this will. Stop arming Israel. Sign on Here

Demand Israel immediately lift its ban on foreign journalists. For more than two years, Israel has maintained a complete blockade on foreign press access to Gaza—the longest and most complete media ban of any modern conflict. Read more for action link.

A study published in the Journal Population Health Metrics found that life expectancy in Gaza “was 42.3 (39.4-45.0) in 2023 and 40.4 (37.5-43.0) in 2024, corresponding to life expectancy losses of 34.4 (31.7-37.3) and 36.4 (33.8-39.3) years, respectively, compared to a counterfactual scenario with no conflict-related deaths.”

We are facing a fluid and unpredictable situation. The ceasefire offers a “window of hope” and the lack of bombing and increase in humanitarian aid is a welcome relief to those who have survived the genocide.

We began compiling this week’s update prior to the announcement of the “Trump Peace Plan.” As we continue following its development, what we know currently is: the ground invasion of Gaza City appears to have halted. We hope this will develop into a just, dignified, and health-supporting resolution to the conflict, but currently that remains unachieved and in doubt.

Reportback from Doctors Against Genocide conference: JVP HAC cofounder Alice Rothchild attended the 9/20-21 DAG conference in Ann Arbor: “An intense, devastating look at the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank through the voices of people in the region and experts in the US.”