Statement on Escalating Violence in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel

As violence escalates in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel, Sasha Muench, Palestine Director for Mercy Corps says:

“We’re living in a tinderbox and deeply concerned we’re on the precipice. Following attacks on civilians earlier this week in Jerusalem and widespread protests across Israel and the West Bank, the violence is igniting tensions on a much larger scale. Airstrikes have now taken the lives of at least 53 Palestinians and 6 Israelis, and many more have been injured; we fear more lives will be lost without an immediate de-escalation of the hostilities. 

“We urge all parties to the conflict to halt this senseless violence, and instead protect civilians as mandated under international humanitarian law.”

Mercy Corps has worked in the West Bank and Gaza since the 1980s, meeting critical humanitarian needs, such as access to clean water, in a safe and dignified way. The team helps small businesses survive the many shocks, and ensure youth can seek a productive future. We believe that consistent access to high-speed internet has strong potential to connect youth to jobs, despite movement restrictions on people and goods that hamper the Gazan economy. As a result, in 2011, Mercy Corps founded Gaza Sky Geeks in cooperation with Google.org. Today Gaza Sky Geeks is the lead co-working space, startup accelerator, and technology education hub in Gaza and the West Bank