Alex Dieker of Newington, is editor of the University of Amsterdam’s Cul magazine.

On Christmas Eve, the Monitor published a My Turn by Fisto Ndayishimiye titled “War is never the answer.” Ndayishimiye writes that “we should create a space where we can share our stories and encourage dialogue between the people of Israel and Gaza instead of resorting to violence.”

It is a courageous statement pointing to an aspiration with which I cannot disagree. He continues, “If we can all understand and empathize with each other’s pain, we can work towards healing and create a peaceful coexistence. Together, we can support those who have lost loved ones and allow them to thrive and share their stories. This will contribute to positive change in the world.”

Empathy, peace, support, and positive change — these are all aspects of human life missing from the violent situation taking place in the Gaza Strip, where over 20,000 Palestinians have been butchered following the violent Hamas attack on October 7. Anyone with a conscience is wondering how to achieve lasting peace. But the question remains: How are we to foster an environment of dialogue when it is our weaponry, and our ignorance, which is increasing the death toll of this conflict by the minute?

What has been taking place in the occupied territories is, according to reputable human rights groups including Jerusalem’s B’tselem and Israeli officials themselves, apartheid. Palestinians are denied their civil rights, such as the ability to travel to visit family, at the same time as Israeli settlers encroach on their ever-dwindling parcels of land.

Former Attorney General of Israel Michael Ben-Yair has said that his country “established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories…that exists to this day,” while former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said in 2010 that “as long as in this territory west of the Jordan River there is only one political entity called Israel it is going to either be non-Jewish, or non-democratic.”

I cite these officials to show that comments made by their contemporaries after Oct. 7 were not simply knee-jerk reactions, but heartfelt opinions. In recent weeks, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter described the IDF’s invasion as the “Gaza Nakba,” in reference to the 1948 depopulation of hundreds of Palestinian towns. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the enemy as “human animals.” Considering the scale of violence perpetrated against civilian targets, it’s clear he wasn’t just talking about the al-Qassam fighters.

Since words are often misinterpreted in U.S. media, I find it important to note that I am in no way condoning any terrorist attack by Hamas. I am also in no way condoning antisemitic calls for the genocide of Israeli Jews, or implying that their state should not exist. I am simply pointing out that the current Netanyahu government is perpetrating the crime of apartheid and, if we are to believe his deputies, aims for the complete eradication of Arab Palestinians, Muslims and Christians alike, in the Gaza Strip.

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Mr. Ndayishimiye is right: we need empathy, we need support, we need positive change, and above all we need peace. We need to look in the mirror and ask why so few countries trust the United States to carry out this peace. What we don’t need is to aid Israel’s occupying forces with weapons and support, both financial and political. We don’t need to unilaterally block ceasefire votes in the United Nations, against the wishes of the majority of the globe. We need to call a spade a spade. We are not witnessing an “Israel-Hamas war,” as you hear on every news channel, but an assault on a civilian population. This is the end goal of an apartheid regime.

This is an attempt at a second Nakba, an attempted genocide. The time for well-wishing is over.

Mr. Ndayishimiye asked our representatives to “publicly call for a ceasefire to finally bring an end to the violence.” I will take his righteous call one step further.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Annie Kuster, Sen. Maggie Hassan, and (my local) Rep. Chris Pappas: Please call for a ceasefire in Palestine. After that is achieved, end all financial, military, and political support for the apartheid Netanyahu government which has a stranglehold over millions of innocent Palestinians.