{"id":495277,"date":"2023-11-12T23:00:03","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T07:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/?p=495277"},"modified":"2026-02-12T17:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T01:18:40","slug":"crip-call-to-action-why-disabled-people-living-in-the-us-need-to-be-calling-for-a-long-lasting-ceasefire-in-israel-palestine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/2023\/11\/12\/crip-call-to-action-why-disabled-people-living-in-the-us-need-to-be-calling-for-a-long-lasting-ceasefire-in-israel-palestine\/","title":{"rendered":"CRIP CALL TO ACTION: Why disabled people living in the US need to be calling for a long lasting ceasefire in Israel-Palestine"},"content":{"rendered":"

CRIP CALL TO ACTION: Why disabled people living in the US need to be calling for a long lasting ceasefire in Israel-Palestine<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Allie Cannington<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Content warnings: \u00a0death, suffering, genocide, violence, settler colonialism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, eugenics, ableism<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This time we cannot cross until we carry each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

All of us refugees, all of us prophets.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

No more taking turns on history\u2019s wheel,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

trying to collect old debts no one can pay.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The sea will not open that way.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

– Excerpt from<\/span><\/i> Aurora Levins Morales<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I write this as a white, disabled, queer, ashkenazi jew whose heart is deeply broken and fully enraged by the ongoing annihilation of Palestinian lives. In just over one month, with support and funding from the United States, the Israeli government has killed more than 11,000 (1) Palestinians, injured more than 29,000 (1) and displaced over 1.4 million (2) Palestinian people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I write this fully condemning the October 7th attacks by Hamas, which killed at least 1,400 Israelis and injured thousands more. I write this demanding for a safe release of the 240 hostages.<\/span><\/p>\n

I write this as someone who grew up being told that Israel was my homeland, a place of ultimate safety for all Jewish people – those who have survived generations of antisemitic violence, most recently being the Holocaust – in which my own relatives were killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

I write this condemning the 75 year occupation of Palestine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I write this with abundant clarity that safety for Jewish people can and will never come at the cost of other people\u2019s freedom, dignity and lives, including the Palestinian people. In fact, I believe that the safety of Jews and Israelis is intrinsically linked to the safety of Palestinians and Muslims.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I write this as a disabled activist who continues to unconditionally value, love, and fight for disabled, deaf and marginalized bodies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I write this after waking up beside my lover, another disabled person who relies on power to live her daily life, holding her tight. We listened to\u00a0 <\/span>Democracy Now!<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 in which a devastated doctor shared how they did not resuscitate a Palestinian person in Gaza because the hospital wouldn\u2019t have had enough power to run the ventilator that the individual would have needed to survive (3).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Digital
Digital sketch drawing by Kalyn Heffernan of Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh on the front lines in Gaza. Holding high a peace sign and the Palestinian flag in a wheelchair as a double amputee with no legs. Shot and killed by israeli soldiers at 29 yrs old after being shot losing both his legs for protesting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Disabled people know ALL TOO WELL what it means when\u2026\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

Disability and\/or chronic illness is developed and there are little-to-no systems of care or support available\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the Israeli bombardment and blockades are creating a mass disabling\u00a0<\/span>event. Whether it be forced displacement, surviving continuous air raids, having loved ones and entire families murdered and missing, and so much more – the colossal rates of individual and collective trauma create all types of disabilities – ranging from mobility, psychiatric, sensory, chronic illness, and so much more. Due to the Israeli government\u2019s destruction of Gaza, including constant attacks to critical hospitals and medical centres (4), all disabled people, including those newly disabled, who survive have limited-to-no access to needed life-saving and life-sustaining care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Too many disabled and marginalized beloveds die too soon<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, over 11,000 people have been killed since the Israeli bombardment began after October 7th; 4,500+ of whom are children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evacuations are called for, but there is no accessible way to flee\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the Israeli government has demanded that all Palestinian civilians evacuate Gaza and leave homes, hospitals, schools, refugee camps and shelters. There are endless reasons why it is challenging for everyone, and even more so for people with disabilities. There is not enough time given to evacuate, some people are not able to leave, or once people do evacuate, there are no places to go nor accessible ways to get to the limited and overcrowded sheltering sites (5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome houses will receive a call and they give you three to five minutes to evacuate\u2026 For many people with disabilities, that\u2019s not enough for them – they need two people to help them. – Lateefa Al Jabari, 40 (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be able to flee this time around\u2026 My sister\u2019s old wheelchair doesn\u2019t fit her, and she is too heavy for me to carry her.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t even know where to go\u201d – Eman, 33 (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

Extremely limited housing is available, let alone accessible housing<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, it is estimated that at least 45% of housing has been destroyed or damaged during this Israeli bombardment (6).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sidewalks and roads are broken, so there are no ways to evacuate to safer locations<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, consistent air raids and bombings by the Israeli government are deteriorating the already inaccessible roadways (5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we got bombed, I started crying. Everyone around me was running,\u00a0<\/span>and I just stood there, and I felt my disability. Two of my kids were missing\u2026 I didn\u2019t know what I should do, how to look for my kids\u201d – Abu Shaker, 49 (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

There is little-to-no communication access<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the already limited disability services and supports infrastructure\u00a0<\/span>compounded by the newest Israeli blockades have made communication devices and language interpretation extremely limited or obsolete. The Israeli government has not provided accessible communication methods for alerting Gaza residents of evacuation warnings (5).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have a hearing device, so I don\u2019t know when they are bombing! I can feel the vibration under my feet, and I see people running without knowing what is happening!\u201d – Iman 19 (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

No assistive technologies are available<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have decimated many people\u2019s assistive devices, ranging from wheelchairs, prosthetics, walkers, etc. (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

Power is shut off; there is no way to charge and use life-saving equipment and medicines, nor have light to communicate in sign languages<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the already limited sources of electricity have been cut off by the Israeli g<\/span>overnment (5).<\/span><\/p>\n

Already limited shipments have stopped; there are no refills possible for pain medication and other life-sustaining medicines and goods\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the Israeli blockades have made it impossible for critical goods to reach all areas of civilian life, including the health care system (6). For example, many surgeries including amputations are being performed without anesthesia (7).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow, I will run out and I don\u2019t know how I will get more medication. If I don\u2019t take the medication, I can\u2019t breathe and will start experiencing heart palpitations. – Samih Al Masri, 50 (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediate and long term medical treatment is needed, but there is no access to hospitals<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, hospitals and medical facilities have been bombed and\/or the Israeli government is directly threatening military attacks (8). As of November 12th, 198 medical staff have now been killed and 87 ambulances damaged. In addition, 21 out of 35 hospitals and 51 out of 72 primary medical care facilities are out of operation (9).<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical and care rationing is at its peak; non disabled bodies are prioritized\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, there is not enough power, medicine, and goods for <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> people who need medical care because of the ongoing Israeli blockades and air raids. For example, bodies of all ages who need power to live are left to die, including premature babies (10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Caregivers and personal attendants are no longer available to come to people\u2019s homes<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, caregivers and personal attendants have been killed, have had to evacuate, or are missing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The internet is limited or shut off, so communication to community members regularly cut\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the Israeli government continues to shut down communication access and services, including the internet (11).<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a severe shortage of food and clean water, making it impossible to nourish, care, and save bodies, particularly those who are immunocompromised, require specific diets, and\/or have regular personal care needs\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In Gaza, the Israeli government has cut off most access points to clean water and food (12).<\/span> Gaza\u2019s wastewater treatment plants have shut down causing the daily release of huge quantities of untreated sewage into the mediterranean sea where people are forced to bathe (13). <\/span>Additionally, damaged water and sanitation systems have increased the risk of disease outbreaks (14). <\/span><\/p>\n

Disabled people know all too well that these realities lead to being left behind; to fend for ourselves, to our demise, to our unjust and premature deaths.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Wherever and however you are entering this time of terror, war, and genocide, your experiences as a disabled person can tell you intuitively that what is happening to the Palestinian people is unacceptable. This is why the worldwide cause for an immediate, long lasting ceasefire is our cause, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

As people with disabilities, we\u2019ve seen the impact we can make when we mobilize at grand scales. We can and must do this for the Palestinian people. If all 61 million disabled Americans acted now, it would significantly impact the ways in which our government responds to this atrocity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, using our experiences and our power to call for an immediate, long lasting ceasefire can happen at the same time as we deeply condemn and grieve the Israeli lives taken during the Oct 7th Hamas attacks and call for the return of the hostages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many ways to take action, many can be done without even leaving our beds.<\/b><\/h4>\n