Last month Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced HR 3103: "Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Under Military Occupation Act" in Congress. HR 3103 has updated facts and data from the "McCollum bill" in the previous Congressional session, which also aimed to protect Palestinian human rights.

HR 3103 is designed to end complicity in the funding of Israeli human rights abuses and war crimes. The bill focuses on three things: (1) detention of children; (2) the seizure or destruction of Palestinian property, including the forced transfer of Palestinians from their homes, and; (3) further annexation of Palestinian land.

At the end of May, there were more than twenty co-sponsors. We need you to get your Representative to sign on to protect Palestinian rights and co-sponsor HR 3103.

Defense for Children Palestine, the Palestinian arm of an international NGO, said in April, "each year approximately 500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years old, are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The most common charge is stone throwing." Save The Children says that most endure physical and psychological violence. Their interviews with 470 children revealed:

• 81% endured physical beatings and 89% suffered verbal abuse.

• 52% were threatened with harm to their families.

• 86% were subjected to strip searches, leaving them humiliated and ashamed.

• 88% did not receive adequate and timely healthcare, even when explicitly requested.



• Almost half (47%) were denied contact with a lawyer.

We've written this year about an individual case demanding Accountability for Shadi Khoury. Unfortunately, conviction rates are close to 99%, and accountability is rare.

The Migration Policy Institute article, "Generations of Palestinian Refugees Face Protracted Displacement and Dispossession," reports that in 2022, 953 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized across the West Bank (the most since 2016), and 1,031 individuals were displaced as a result.

The UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) keeps a tally of the displacement of Palestinians and the destruction of their buildings. They report that as of May 24 of this year Israel has demolished 381 Palestinian structures and displaced almost 600 people. Palestinians continue to be expelled from their homes in the West Bank, leading to further displacement.

The Foundation for Middle East Peace summarized ongoing and developing annexation of Palestinian land in their weekly report published on May 19.

Send a message to your representatives in Congress to support HR 3103 and emphasize that it's not okay for our tax dollars to support detention of Palestinian children, demolition of Palestinian homes, or annexation of Palestinian land.

LEARN MORE

Defense for Children Palestine provides stories, facts, and tools to take action, as well as a podcast about childhood under occupation.

B'tselem, an Israeli NGO for human rights in the occupied territories, has frequent updates about land annexation and the forced displacement of Palestinians, and an interactive map.

Watch the video below about the killing of Mohammad Tamimi in early June in the village of Nabi Selah:

NOW TAKE ACTION

• Email Representative Strickland or call 202- 225-9740 and request that she sign HR 3103.
• If you're in a different district, find the contact for your representative here.

• Email Senator Patty Murray or call 202-244-3441 to request that she introduce a companion bill to HR 3103 in the Senate

• Email Senator Maria Cantwell or call 202-224-2621 to request that she introduce a companion bill to HR 3103 in the Senate.
• If you have a different Senator, reach out to them here.

In April Senator Cantwell returned from a trip to Israel/Palestine and met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. It's important that she, and all of our members of Congress, now hear from you on why we must stop funding violence against Palestinians.

We need all of you to quickly reinforce our message. Please call and write to your members of Congress today. In addition you can use the tool below to send a message in support of HR 3031, organized by our colleagues at the American Friends Service Committee.

Thanks to Rep Jayapal (D -WA 7 [Seattle]) and all current co-sponsors of HR 3103!

The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Mail donations by check to the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice, 203 East 4th Ave, Suite 402, Olympia, WA 98501.