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July 29, 2024

Statement on Strikes Killing Civilians Playing Soccer in Golan Heights

We are deeply concerned that the Middle East may once again be on the precipice of an all out regional war with reports of planned further escalation between Israel and Hezbollah and urge our U.S. government to do everything in its power to de-escalate the situation before it is too late. 

The reports and images of the killing of children and teens at a soccer field in the town of Majdal Shams  – home to a large Druze population in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights  – have been heart-breaking. We mourn them, just as we mourn the countless children and innocent civilians who have been killed in this conflict.

It has been clear since the horrible events of October 7th that, as long as the war in Gaza goes on, it will be increasingly difficult to prevent the conflict from engulfing the entire region.  If a ceasefire is not secured, soon, this war will expand with devastating effects for the people of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and many other countries.

There is no military solution to this conflict or to the underlying problems of occupation, apartheid or dehumanization. The failure of the current strategy to free hostages, stop the bombing and humanitarian suffering of Palestinians, ensure security for Israelis, and prevent regional war demands that we do everything possible to pursue diplomacy.

NIAC rejects calls to escalate this crisis even further and reiterates our call for the United States to maximize its leverage over Netanyahu to force a ceasefire deal – a deal that prevents a regional war, returns the hostages and begins to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

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