In response to the recent escalation of violence in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling on the Biden-Harris administration to halt shipments of weapons targeting civilians to Israel and push for an immediate ceasefire.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, Israel launched airstrikes into the Rafah Refugee Camp in the south of Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of 45 Palestinians and leaving over 200 people, including young children, injured. These airstrikes occurred despite an order from the top United Nations (U.N.) court for Israel to cease its operations. The White House has described the attacks as deeply troubling.

The death toll among Gazans has reached over 36,000, with another 81,000 injured, following the attack on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people. In addition, nearly 500 Palestinians in the West Bank, including 117 children, have lost their lives as well.

In response to these tragic events, the White House issued a three-stage proposal on May 31, outlining a path toward a permanent ceasefire and the safe return of hostages held by Hamas.

However, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson argues that the Biden administration's statement goes insufficiently far. While calling for a ceasefire is a step in the right direction, Johnson emphasizes the need for concrete actions that work towards liberation for all parties involved.

Johnson points out that ongoing conflict and violence in the Middle East reflect a failure to address the root causes effectively. To that end, the NAACP urges President Biden to halt the shipment of weapons and artillery to Israel and other states that supply weapons to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. The organization asserts that limiting access to such weapons is essential to achieving lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The NAACP also condemns the recent bombing of Rafah and the loss of relief workers who were attempting to provide aid to the people of Gaza. The organization calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to pave the way towards a two-state solution and alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

By advocating, agitating, and litigating for the civil rights of Black Americans, the NAACP is committed to ending race-based discrimination and achieving racial equity. The organization believes that a world without racism is essential for all marginalized communities to thrive and seeks to secure social and political power that can drive and sustain positive change.

It is now up to the Biden-Harris administration to heed the call from the NAACP and take decisive action to bring an end to the violence and work towards a just and lasting resolution in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.