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It's time to call out the hypocrisy of the Western medical community. The AMA preaches advocacy for the "betterment of public health," yet they still find it trepidatious to talk about the public health crisis Palestinians are currently facing. That is why we are calling on people who influence the AMA to do the right thing — people like Philip Landrigan. Dr. Landrigan is the director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College. He is a pediatrician, like Dr. Abu Safiya, and has been recognized by The Lancet as a "children’s health crusader." He is also regularly featured in the AMA's journal. Dr. Abu Safiya has been in Israeli detention for over 500 days and now sits in solitary confinement, his condition worsening by the day. After months of pressuring the AMA, they still refuse to meet with us. So now, we're calling on influential physicians to pressure the AMA to stay true to its commitment to public health and human dignity! Sign the petition to Dr. Landrigan: Help us urge the AMA to do the right thing! |
News & Analysis
A new photo of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya has emerged, showing the drastic changes to his physical appearance. The image, apparently taken from a video call with the Israeli courts, is of the few photos of the doctor seen by the public since his detention began in 2024. He has visibly lost weight and his arms show markings of physical abuse, evidence of torture by the Israeli military. This is a pediatrician who was determined to stay beside his patients as his hospital was besieged, until finally he was kidnapped. Now, he sits in solitary confinement with constant rejections from the Israeli court to release him. This is a genocidal strategy by Israel to target healthcare workers and infrastructure, extinguishing the means for injured people to survive and heal.
In a calculated move that has never been seen before, Israel released a cement-like substance into Al-Maghazai refugee camp in Gaza. Streets became unusable, and families were trapped inside their homes. Once again, Israel has engineered unfathomable tactics of genocide to make Palestinian life unbelievably difficult. A journalist on the ground said, “We escaped the siege of gunfire, only to be under the siege of cement.”
On June 18th, life-long Palestinian activist Salah Sarsour was freed after 80 days in ICE detention. Sarsour is a lawful permanent resident and was held based on false criminal allegations by Israel from back when he was a teenager in Palestine. There is no doubt that Sarsour was targeted by ICE as a repression tactic by the Trump administration, as he is an active board member of American Muslims for Palestine and the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Although he has been released from ICE detention, his case is ongoing. Read more about Salah Sarsour's case here.
Prairieland activists receive unprecedented sentencing for involvement in anti-ICE protest in Alvarado, Texas. Eight individuals have been handed extremely long prison sentences, ranging from 30 to 100 years, due to involvement in a protest outside of an ICE detention facility last July. This case, in tandem with Salah Sarsour's case, is a clear indication that the Trump administration's promise to criminalize anyone fighting against the injustices of the system is coming to fruition. Read more about the Prairieland Case here.
Personal Note from Jenin
The people in power may think that long prison sentences will scare us into silence, weakening the peace movement. But for me, it's motivation. If anything, this is just more confirmation that our work is effective, because the oppressor is scrambling to keep us quiet.
It can be easy to lose sight of why we organize, especially when state repression is getting stronger. Whenever I find myself wavering, I think of this quote from Assata Shakur:
"It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains."
Remember — this is so much bigger than any one of us.
Until Liberation,
Jenin, CODEPINK
Featured Article
"When Israelis are permitted to commit war crime after war crime, including holding medical professionals hostage, it sets a precedent. They’re not only killing and kidnapping healthcare workers in Gaza, but in Lebanon and Iran, too. Is it just because these are brown Muslim people that the AMA refuses to speak out? For an organization that claims a commitment to human rights and dignity, its racism is loud, and its participation in the white supremacist attitudes of Western imperialism is staggering."
Read "Apathy in the American Medical Association" by Jenin, CODEPINK
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