A permanent ceasefire is the best way to stop escalation

This weekend a missile hit the town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, killing at least 12 children. Israel has responded by bombing targets in Lebanon, killing at least three people and adding to a death toll of more than 500 people killed in Israeli bombings of Lebanon.

This weekend the Israeli military also continued to carry out a genocide in Gaza; on Saturday they bombed another school where families were seeking shelter. More than 30 people were killed.

We mourn the loss of these lives and the lives of all who have been killed. We hold their families and loved ones in the Light.

The Israeli government has approved more attacks on Lebanon, and there is a growing risk of escalation into a regional war. The rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon are a direct result of Israel's genocidal attack on Gaza where as many as 180,000 people may have died as a direct and indirect result of Israeli actions.

To avoid further killing, deescalate tension in the region, and avoid the spread of war, the U.S. and other members of the international community must enforce an arms embargo on Israel, demand an immediate ceasefire, and take steps to hold accountable all parties responsible for war crimes and violations of the law.

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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) promotes a world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light within each person, we nurture the seeds of change and the respect for human life to fundamentally transform our societies and institutions. We work with people and partners worldwide, of all faiths and backgrounds, to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace.