Die-in to protest Israel's Assault on Gaza drew dozens of protesters on Monday, Aug. 4th

Statement from Jewish Voice For Peace (Santa Cruz) prior to the August 4th demonstration:

"Begun on July 8th as a bombing campaign, Israel then launched a ground invasion in addition to the airstrikes on Gaza. The assault has claimed the lives of over 1,850 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom were civilians, including nearly 400 children. 63 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers & three Israeli civilians have also died."

"Gaza has been called an “open-air prison” because Israel controls its land, airspace, sea, access to electricity, movement of people and goods including food, water & medicine. Israel controls Gaza’s borders with the exception of the Rafah Crossing on the border with Egypt, which has been closed by the Al-Sisi military government; even medical aid has been denied. There is nowhere for people to go, evacuation is not an option."

"In addition to the $3 billion per year in military aid, this week the US Congress approved Israel’s request to resupply their munitions and grant an additional $225 million dollars for their Iron Dome system. Concerned U.S. citizens demand that the U.S. deny this request and immediately freeze all U.S. aid to Israel. They call for urgent hearings in the U.S. House and Senate regarding Israel's violation of U.S. laws that forbid the use of U.S. supplied weapons against civilian populations. The U.S. must instead use all of it’s international influence, including sanctions, to demand that Israel to stop the bombings and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, end the siege on Gaza, abide by international law, and end the occupation of Palestine."