Texas Muslim Leadership Coalition

“In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful”

Open Letter to Texas Elected Officials 

From: Texas Muslim Leadership Coalition

To: U.S. Senators, U.S. Congress members, and all elected officials throughout Texas

Subject: Demand for an Immediate and Permanent ceasefire in Gaza

We, a coalition representing over 500,000 Muslims in Texas, urgently appeal to you regarding the dire situation in Gaza. We condemn the state-sponsored attacks by Israel and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

We unequivocally condemn the state-sponsored air and ground attacks by the state of Israel on the civilians of Gaza and the West Bank for the last several decades just as we condemn the loss of innocent human lives on October 7th.

The death toll resulting from Israel's continual attacks across Gaza since October 7th has surpassed 35,000 people, including at least 14,500 children, over 100 UN aid workers, and at least 99 journalists.  At least 79,000 people have been injured during Israel's attacks and more than 8,000 people are missing and presumed dead. 70 percent of the population is estimated to be experiencing catastrophic hunger.  Over 28 children have died from malnutrition and dehydration.  Officials from the UN have accused Israel of deliberately and "systematically" blocking aid and warn that over 500,000 people are one step away from famine. The death toll in Gaza is increasing daily and can only be stopped by an immediate ceasefire.

Since October 7th, Israel's actions have cut off essential resources to over two million Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israel has cut off food, water, power, fuel, and medicine to over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Citing grave violations committed by Israel against the civilian population of Gaza, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner stated, "Over half the civilian infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed,including...housing units, as well as hospitals, schools, mosques, bakeries, water pipes, sewage, and electrical networks." According to the latest data from UN's Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA), the World Health Organization(WHO) and the Palestinian government, as of February 25, 2024, Israeli attacks have damaged or destroyed: 360,000 residential units, 392 educational facilities, 11 hospitals, 132 ground water wells, 267 places of worship.  

Israel's unlawful siege on Gaza had Palestinians living under unspeakable conditions for decades. Since October 7th, denying electricity, food, or water, has greatly exacerbated their misery and caused a dire humanitarian crisis. Disturbing statements from Israeli officials, such as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing the people of Gaza as "human animals" and Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu openly threatening a nuclear attack on Gaza calling for continued denial of humanitarian aid to civilians as "there is no such thing as an uninvolved civilian in Gaza," further underscore a deliberate intent to destroy Gaza, constituting genocide under international law.

International organizations, including the UN, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B'Tselem, affirm that Israel is committing war crimes. 

The severe restrictions on essential resources—food, water, medical supplies, electricity, and fuel—are intensifying the toll of imminent fatalities. Currently, countless innocent individuals endure agonizing, protracted deaths, trapped beneath the wreckage of bombed homes, hospitals, schools, shelters, churches, mosques, and various structures. Displaced patients, lacking access to routine medical care such as dialysis and cancer treatments, face fatal consequences. Children, compelled to consume contaminated water, suffer from debilitating stomach illnesses, diarrhea, and dehydration, with a looming mass casualty scenario. The intentional starvation in Gaza, denounced by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner as a war crime, stands as an unconscionable violation that cannot be justified in the name of self-defense.

As you know, members of the Muslim community in Texas are law-abiding citizens who excel in the areas of education, information and biotechnology, health care, law enforcement, first responders, hospitality, law, oil and gas, energy, information technology, agricultural, pharmaceutical and vaccine sciences, engineering, real estate, construction, transportation, and many other high-tech and growth producing areas that support jobs and add significantly to the economy of the state of Texas. 

As concerned citizens who value justice and peace on a national and global scale, we are compelled to share our concerns with you collectively about the direction of the one-sided, unqualified support that most elected officials and the media have provided to Israel. The complete and total support of Israel has been unproductive, un-nuanced, and intellectually dishonest. On behalf of our diverse collective, we present the below requests:

• Immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire from all sides to the conflict,
• Immediate, unimpeded, and sustained flow of humanitarian aid at scale,
• Immediate end to war crimes and violations of international law, including attacks on healthcare and vital infrastructure,
• Immediate negotiations to end occupation and reverse displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,
• Immediate efforts to bring all American Palestinians who are stranded in Gaza back to the U.S.
• Immediate action to counter the dramatic rise in anti-Muslim, anti-Arab incidents on community members in Texas.  

The Muslim American community has worked tirelessly for decades to deepen its civic engagement with the belief that the United States, a champion of democracy and human rights, will play a critical role in fostering a fair and just resolution to the complex issues facing our country, including those that have plagued the Middle East for decades. 

We remain committed to the principles of equality and justice and hope that we can find a path forward working with you and our national leadership to foster a more balanced and constructive approach based on International Law to bring peace to the Israeli and Palestinian people.

We implore you to act urgently, as countless lives hang in the balance. Together, let us condemn these egregious violations and demand an immediate end to this humanitarian catastrophe.

We urge you, as representatives of the Muslim American community, to stand for justice and support a balanced approach that promotes peace. 

Sincerely, 

The Texas Muslim Leadership Coalition:

Council on American-Islamic Relations-Texas, CAIR Texas,

An Nisa Hope Center,

Muslim Ummah of North America,

American Muslims for Palestine- Texas,

Indian American Muslim Council ,

Islamic Circle of North America- Houston chapter,

Muslim American Society- Houston chapter,

The Islamic Society of Greater Houston, ISGH,

Masjid At-Tawid, Houston, Texas

Shadow Creek Islamic Center,

University of Houston Muslim Student Association,

Muslim Bar Association of Houston,

Suhbah Institute,

Islamic Education Center, IEC,

The Retreat,

COMET Houston,

IslamInSpanish,

Clear Lake Islamic Center, CLIC,

Hamd Institute,

 New Muslim Circle,

Strong Muslimah,

Emgage Action Texas,

Multi Cultural Center, MCC,

North Austin Muslim Community Center, NAMCC,

Islamic Center of Lake Travis,

Muslims Giving Back, North Texas,

Good Citizens of DFW,

North Texas Chapter of Muslim Alliance for Black Lives, MABL-N.TX,

Council on American Islamic Relations -Dallas/Ft Worth Chapter, CAIR DFW,

Oakcliff Empowerment Center,

Islamic Center Of Round Rock,

North Texas Islamic Council,

Muslim American Society - DFW,

Islamic Center of Coppell (ICC),

ICNA Council for Social Justice- DFW,

Dar El Quran wal Hadeeth,

 Islamic Center of Brushy Creek