We all are grieving at the profound loss of life that has occurred over the past ten days. At least 2,700 Palestinians, 1,400 Israelis, and many Americans have been killed. Tens of thousands of people have been injured. [Editor’s note: Bush delivered this speech on October 16; the current figures are at least 7,400 Palestinians killed, including 3,000 children, and more than 20,000 injured.] Nearly two hundred Israelis are being held hostage. Families have been destroyed, and Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, are facing unimaginable trauma as they navigate this horrific moment.

Adding to the crisis, the Israeli government has cut off electricity, food, fuel, and internet to Gaza. It has bombed neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. It has ordered 1.1 million people — including those who are children, elderly, sick, injured, disabled, and pregnant — to leave their homes in northern Gaza, and then bombed them as they evacuated.

Let me be clear: the collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza is a war crime. With a full-scale invasion of Gaza likely imminent, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives hang in the balance — and it’s not only happening right before our eyes, it’s happening with the support and power of the United States government. It’s shameful. In addition to sharing my grief and sorrow, I want to affirm my strong belief that all human life is equally precious. A belief that above all else we must save lives; we must lead with love and solidarity; we must fight against violence and human suffering.