FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 29, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: brian.phillips@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released the following statement regarding the deadly weekend strike on a Rafah displacement camp:

“The deadly IDF strike this past Sunday on a Rafah displacement camp was a stark and painful reminder that after 7 months of bloodshed, war will always be a poor tool for carving out peace, and we must refuse to accept violence as an answer to attain it. As the death toll of this war continues to mount, so too does the pain and anguish over the loss of innocent life that diminishes all of humanity. In no way can violence help us attain peace, and the weekend’s deadly strike calls on all of us to reiterate our calls for a negotiated ceasefire to release all hostages, end the senseless violence and killing of innocent civilians, encourage unfettered humanitarian aid, and finally bring peace and stability into the region that would lead to a Palestinian state.

“Today, I toured the Nova Music Festival Exhibit and met with young people who attended the music festival on October 7th — a somber monument to the urgent need for peace. The groundbreaking installation, echoing the weight of victims’ and survivors’ memories, was riddled with scorched cars, bullet-riddled bathroom stalls, and personal belongings of those who were taken too soon. But the purpose of the event was more than a re-creation of pain and hurt. It was a dedication to the peace and love that was cut short that day – the same peace, love, and healing that we all must continue to strive for in the US, the Middle East, and around the world.”

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