Thread by @Ruwa4Georgia

🧵My Statement on the Ongoing Violence Surrounding the Gaza Strip:

Although I’m a Georgia State Representative with little jurisdiction over international issues, I am Georgia’s first Palestinian Elected Official. 1/ #GAPol

That role comes with an added responsibility of representing a diaspora that rarely has democratically elected representation. As such, I feel compelled to comment on the horrific bloodshed we are witnessing surrounding Gaza. 2/

What we are seeing unfold is the result of decades of policy failures and an inability by leaders to come to a just solution for all living in the region. We cannot keep pretending that Palestinian people do not exist or ignore the rise of settler violence aimed at them. 3/

The inability of leaders to come to a peace agreement has enabled violent stakeholders to fill the vacuum. As violence escalates, civilians in Israel and the occupied territories bear the brunt of these failures time after time. 4/

I have always believed that lack of justice leads to violence and the only way we can increase safety in any community is by alleviating oppression. What we are seeing in the region is not sustainable. We absolutely can, and should, condemn violence and terror. 5/

We should also condemn escalating settler violence and terror aimed at Palestinian business owners and farmers that has served as a rallying cry for this most recent escalation. 6/

As of writing this statement, reports indicate more than 200 Palestinians and 100 Israelis are dead and thousands more injured. There needs to be an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation before anymore lives are lost.

7/ bbc.com/news/world-mid…

My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who, like me, have loved ones impacted by this. 8/