5 Things to Know about the Escalating Situation in the Middle East – AFSC

"While the Israeli army is intensifying its lethal assaults on Lebanon, pushing the region closer to a full-scale war, there is a clear path to stopping the violence..."

Excerpt from an article by Michael Merryman-Lotze* for the American Friends Service Committee website (Updated Oct 1, 2024)...

"The Israeli army is intensifying its lethal assaults on Lebanon, pushing the region closer to a full-scale war. On September 17 and 18, Israel remotely detonated explosives hidden in electronic devices allegedly linked to Hezbollah. The following week, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon resulted in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and the displacement of 100,000 people. Currently, an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon is underway.

The AFSC mourns all those who have been killed or injured. Consistent with our history, we oppose all forms of violence and will continue our efforts to bring about the changes necessary to end violence and establish a just and lasting peace.

There is a clear path to halting this violence in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader region. The U.S. must implement an immediate arms embargo on Israel and demand a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. These actions would end the genocide in Gaza and reduce regional tensions.

As we keep up our call for peace, understanding the context is crucial."

The author then covers five essential things that we all need to know about the situation. To read the full article, GO HERE

*Michael Merryman-Lotze serves as AFSC's Just Peace Global Policy Director