MARUF CT Press Statements

[Hartford, CT] – October 10, 2025 – MARUF CT welcomes the recently announced ceasefire in Gaza, with a measured sense of relief. The Palestinians’ path to freedom and self determination, after the immense suffering they have endured over the past two years of a brutal genocide, is long and uncertain, requiring sustained international support, accountability, and a genuine commitment to justice and peace.

Since October 2023, Israel has dropped more than 200,000 tons of explosives on Gaza, with the following results:

• 67,000 Gazans have been brought to hospitals and recorded as killed.

• Approximately 20,000 children have been killed, including 1,015 infants under a year old.

• Nearly 10,000 are missing and still buried under the rubble.

• 460 Palestinians have died of starvation.

• 170,000 have been injured, including 19,000 who will need long-term rehabilitation.

• 4,800 people have had limbs amputated, nearly a fifth of them children.

• 2,700 families have been completely erased from the registry.

• 6,000 people are now the sole survivors of their families.

• More than 90% of all homes have been destroyed or rendered unliveable.

• More than 835 mosques have been completely destroyed and at least 180 others damaged, while three churches were also damaged.

These realities point to multiple violations of international humanitarian law, including indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians; deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure; use of starvation as a method of warfare; and collective punishment of the civilian population. MARUF CT cofounder Jenny Haddad Mosher said “true peace cannot be achieved without justice and accountability. We call on the U.S. government to uphold both U.S. and international laws by ensuring no further weapons or military aid are provided to Israel until it is held accountable for its actions in Gaza.”

We also demand our government hold Israeli leaders accountable to fulfill their commitments under the ceasefire deal, end the siege, and ensure the protection of Palestinian lives and rights to their land and self-determination.

MARUF CT will continue to speak truth to power as our moral duty compels us to stand firmly for justice, human rights, and the protection of all oppressed peoples until freedom and dignity are secured for all.

Questions? Please contact MARUF CT co-founders Vina McDermott and Hend Elsantaricy at

info@marufct.org

[Hartford, CT] - September 6, 2025 - MARUF CT is pleased to learn that US Representative Jahana Hayes, serving the 5th District of Connecticut, and her team have successfully facilitated the return of Meriden, CT residents, Intifada Aziz Abdelghani and her 14-year-old son, Musa, who were barred from leaving Israel after visiting family in the West Bank. The family had been prevented from departing since August 15, 2025, subjected to multiple interrogations, invasive searches, as well as having their passports confiscated. Why? Simply because they are Palestinians!

https://www.ctinsider.com/recordjournal/article/ct-meriden-israel-palestine-intifada-abdelghani-21026563.php

We extend our sincere gratitude to Representative Jahana Hayes for her efforts and commitment to human rights and social justice.

MARUF CT is grateful that Congresswoman Hayes responded to the calls from her constituents to actively engage with the State Department and Israeli officials to resolve the issue and work through hurdles to ensure that Intifada and Musa are safe and free to come home.

Hend Elsantaricy, co-founder of MARUF CT said that “The experience of Intifada and Musa is not something new for Palestinians who have been living under occupation and through genocide for 77 years. It is important to recognize that thousands of Palestinian families continuously face discrimination, apartheid, arbitrary detention, home demolitions, and forced displacement”.

MARUF CT stands in solidarity with all Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the occupied territories. We will continue to call on our elected officials to speak up for all Palestinians, not only those who carry American citizenship.

We urge US Congressman Hayes, and all US Representatives, serving our 4 other districts, to deepen their support for the people of Palestine and their commitment to peace and justice by co-sponsoring House Resolution 3565. This resolution, cosponsored by 41 members of Congress, is a vital step toward achieving peace and the opportunity to provide much needed humanitarian aid to a starving population. H.R.3565: To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel, is known widely as The Block the Bombs Act.

MARUF CT Co-Founder Vina McDermott noted that recent polls show an overwhelming majority of Americans—68% as of July 2025—oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza and want to halt the flow of deadly weapons. H.R. 3565 is a historic measure, marking the first time Congress has sought to proactively block arms to Israel.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/692948/u.s.-back-israel-military-action-gaza-new-low.aspx

Vina said that “MARUF believes that by standing firm and taking decisive legislative action, our representatives can help foster a more just and equitable future for all Palestinians affected by the ongoing brutality.” 

We look forward to Congress’s continued leadership and dedication to this important cause and will continue our calls to urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 3565.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3565

Questions? Please contact MARUF CT co-founders Vina McDermott and Hend Elsantaricy at

info@marufct.org

[Hartford, CT] – May 15, 2025 MARUF-CT applauds all five of Connecticut’s US representatives for backing H.Res.473, a House resolution demanding urgent humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza’s civilians. This critical measure comes as Palestinians face catastrophic starvation, systemic blockade, and relentless Israeli bombardment. It also comes at a time as the Trump administration continues in its predecessor's footsteps by vetoing another UN ceasefire resolution that will end further devastation of civilians in Gaza.

“For 20 months, we have warned of Gaza’s escalating humanitarian catastrophe. It is only right that our elected officials stand for the most fundamental human rights—access to food, water, and survival,” said Vina McDermott, MARUF-CT Co-founder.

Gaza has endured a brutal 17-year Israeli blockade, with Israel tightly controlling food, medicine, and essential supplies long before its October 2023 assault. Since the war began, conditions have deteriorated into famine: over 2 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, while Israel deliberately bombs UN food distribution centers, targets aid workers (including the World Central Kitchen attack), and weaponizes starvation. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the sick are dying from malnutrition and preventable diseases as Israel systematically destroys Gaza’s food systems, in a calculated campaign of starvation, a recognized war crime under international law.

MARUF-CT has actively engaged Connecticut’s representatives, urging them to support this resolution and uphold their moral responsibility. As Muslims in Connecticut and around the world observe Eid al Adha—a holiday rooted in sacrifice and compassion—their celebrations are overshadowed by grief and outrage over the ongoing genocides in Gaza and Sudan, as well as escalating violence in the West Bank and other parts of the world. We urge all Americans and conscientious people everywhere not to look away, and to continue doing everything in our power to end the suffering.

For questions, contact:** MARUF-CT Communications Team Email:** info@marufct.org

[Hartford, CT] – May 15, 2025 – MARUF CT, a Connecticut-based advocacy organization dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, welcomes President Trump’s announcement to lift Syria sanctions. 

Since late 1979, the United States has imposed a series of targeted sanctions on Syria. These measures were significantly expanded in the early 2000s and further intensified after the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in March 2011, in response to the regime’s longstanding human rights abuses, support for terrorism, and the widespread atrocities committed during the Syrian Civil War. The sanctions have been instrumental in applying sustained diplomatic and economic pressure on the Assad regime and its affiliates.

After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Syria now stands at a pivotal moment. The country is entering a new phase—one that presents a historic opportunity to initiate reconstruction, attract international investment, and begin the long process of national recovery and reconciliation.

As Syria moves forward, the international community will be watching closely to ensure that this new chapter is marked by transparency, accountability, and respect for the rights of all Syrians. MARUF Co-Founder and Syrian-American, Mergima Alarnout stated that “Syria has long been a beacon of intellect and culture in the region. Lifting sanctions would provide critical relief to the Syrian people, who have endured worsening conditions with resilience since the outbreak of the revolution in 2011. It is long overdue to support them as they work to rebuild their country and their lives.”

MARUF CT commends the new American administration’s clear shift in policy, joining major powers such as France, Germany, and Turkiye in taking a more active and constructive role in Syria. Hend Elsantericy, MARUF Co-Founder, explains “The progress and wellbeing of Syria are critical to the security and stability of the entire region. We can no longer afford a passive ‘wait and see’ approach—assertive action is needed to support the emerging government and give it a real chance to succeed.”

Global leaders and experts have emphasized that lifting sanctions must be met by responsible governance and international oversight. According to recent UN data, more than 16 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction is projected to cost over $250 billion. 

MARUF CT urges President Trump to call on the Israeli government to immediately cease airstrikes in Syria and end its illegal occupation and recent advancements on Syrian territory. Such actions are essential to uphold international law and support Syria’s path to peace and sovereignty.

In closing, MARUF CT urges the U.S. Congress to support the lifting of sanctions and to fund sustainable rebuilding efforts that prioritize transparency, local engagement, and the needs of the Syrian people. We also call on Congress to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and Syria’s sovereignty. Now is the time to invest in an inclusive future for Syria and reaffirm America’s commitment to human dignity and regional stability.

For questions, contact:** MARUF-CT Communications Team Email:** info@marufct.org

[Hartford, CT]  February 18, 2025 – MARUF-CT (Muslim Advocacy for Rights, Unity, and Fairness - Connecticut) issues the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate delegation’s press conference today in Jerusalem regarding the hostage exchange and peace efforts in Gaza.

While we acknowledge the U.S. Senate delegation’s efforts to engage in discussions surrounding peace and the release of hostages, MARUF-CT urges the delegation to stretch themselves beyond the one-sided perspective generated by meeting only with Israeli government officials and to bear witness, with their own eyes, to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We call on the delegation to visit Gaza and see firsthand the death, destruction, and suffering endured by the Palestinian people. The scale of devastation demands moral clarity and immediate action.

MARUF-CT condemns in the strongest terms Senator Richard Blumenthal’s praise for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which have been responsible for egregious violations of international law, including attacks on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. In particular, Senator Blumenthal praised Israel’s explosion of pagers in September 2024, widely considered a violation of humanitarian law, and which “killed at least 32 people and maimed or injured 3,250. Among the dead are a boy and a girl, as well as medical personnel. Around 500 people suffered severe eye injuries, including a diplomat. Others suffered grave injuries to their faces, hands and bodies", according to UN human rights experts. Such statements by Senator Blumenthal are deeply troubling, shockingly dismissive of the equal value of Arab life, and undermine the pursuit of justice and accountability. Senator Blumenthal must retract his remarks and acknowledge the harm caused by the IDF’s actions, which have resulted in the loss of countless innocent lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. 

Additionally, MARUF-CT further calls on Senator Blumenthal to take a principled stand against Israel’s immoral and illegal expansionist policies, including the ongoing displacement of Palestinians and the annexation of occupied territories. These actions violate international law and undermine any prospects for a just and lasting peace. We urge him to leverage the United States’ significant influence to impose an arms embargo on Israel until it ceases its violations of human rights and international law. The continued provision of military aid to Israel enables the perpetuation of violence and injustice against the Palestinian people. An arms embargo is a necessary step toward accountability and justice.

MARUF-CT also calls on Senator Blumenthal to: 1. Advocate for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further loss of life. 2. Support the lifting of the blockade on Gaza to allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and reconstruction materials. 3. Push for a comprehensive peace process that addresses the root causes of the conflict, including the occupation, and ensures the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.

The people of Connecticut expect their leaders to stand on the right side of history. We urge the delegation to return home with a renewed commitment to justice, human rights, and peace for all people in the region. MARUF-CT remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights of Palestinians and all oppressed communities. We stand ready to work with the delegation and other stakeholders to advance these critical goals.

For questions, contact:** MARUF-CT Communications Team Email: info@marufct.org 

[Hartford, CT] – January 16, 2024 – MARUF CT, a Connecticut-based advocacy organization dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, welcomes yesterday’s news of a pending ceasefire in Gaza with relief and firm resolve to continue to demand that American foreign policy—in the Middle East generally and towards Palestinians particularly—become more sane, humane, and equitable.

Lowest estimates are that, in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7th attack, Israel has killed at least 46,000+ Palestinians in Gaza, including almost 18,000 children, with the material and moral support of the Biden Administration. New studies suggest the actual number is more likely to be 64,000+ or even as high as 78,525, with 59% of the dead being women, children, and elderly. At least 110,265 people have been injured and 1.9 million people, 90% of the population, are internally displaced. MARUF-CT Co-Founder Hend Elsantaricy: “We unequivocally condemn this campaign of collective punishment and its dehumanization and devaluation of Palestinian life; we insist our tax dollars not be used to support such actions. We extend our condolences to those Connecticut residents—our neighbors—who have lost friends or family members to this horrific campaign, whether by traumatic injury, deprivation of medical resources, exposure or starvation.”

The ceasefire agreement reached yesterday is in no way substantially different from those proposed since May 2024, but repeatedly rejected by Israel (as Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted on January 13, 2025). Consequently, by all appearances and contrary to its claims, Israel’s chief aim in the past 8 months has not been rescue of the hostages but the decimation of the Gazan population and complete destruction of the infrastructure of Gaza. Via U.S. supplied weapons and disingenuous political cover, the Biden administration enabled this disproportionate revenge spree in an incredible display of strategic ineptitude and ethical failure. It ignored clear evidence of war crimes and, by extension, U.S. Leahy Laws as it continued to provide arms. MARUF-CT Co-Founder Vina McDermott: “By refusing to restrain or hold accountable the government of Israel, the Biden administration lost the faith of many Democratic and independent voters and, as a result, the 2024 election. We ask all CT Senators and Representatives to face this reality with seriousness and renew their commitment to actually listen to voters and their concerns.”

MARUF-CT expresses deep gratitude to all Connecticut Muslims and allies who worked to educate their neighbors and protest our government’s complicity in violence perpetrated against Palestinians—via over 27,000 phone calls and emails to our officials, participation in demonstrations, and bold sharing of information in public fora. In concert with their on-going efforts, MARUF-CT will continue to work towards integration of Muslim and Arab Americans into the greater fabric of American political life with “unity, rights, and fairness” and a new U.S. relationship with the MENA region.

Questions? Please contact MARUF CT co-founders Vina McDermott and Hend Elsantaricy at info@marufct.org

[Hartford, CT] – November 28, 2024.  On this Thanksgiving Day, as many families in the USA, gather together, MARUF CT welcomes the announced Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire as long overdue relief for our Lebanese brothers and sisters, who have endured 3000+ deaths, 1.3+ million displaced from their homes, and 1000s of buildings damaged or destroyed—residences, schools, healthcare facilities, mosques, and churches—over the past 14 months. We call on our elected officials to expand their efforts to achieve a total, unconditional ceasefire in the entire region, using every tool possible to realize that end, including an arms embargo against Israel.

MARUF CT Co-Founder Hend Elsantaricy: “Connecticut is home to a significant Lebanese American community, both Muslims and Christians; additionally, we have Palestinian and other Arab American citizens here with family and friends resident in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The way their safety, security, property, and livelihoods have been dismissed by our government as ‘collateral damage’ over the past several months has been completely at odds with foundational American values. Going forward, we ask our elected officials to act in a way that clearly projects that Arab lives are equal in value to Israeli lives.”

As per information shared in a White House briefing today, Lebanese Americans and their family members are cautioned not to return to their homes in areas still occupied by the IDF. The IDF has not committed to a complete, immediate withdrawal; no guarantees have been provided for civilian safety in these areas at this time. 

MARUF CT also recognizes that the painful history of colonization and violence against Indigenous peoples in the U.S. is essential for understanding how these histories continue to shape the present, not only for Indigenous communities but also for all those affected by systems of oppression.

MARUF-CT (Muslim Advocacy for Rights, Unity, & Fairness) is a grassroots organization founded in 2024 through the efforts of the CT Phone Bank for Palestine group. The CT Phone Bank group consists of concerned Connecticut citizens who have made over 26,000 calls to US Senators and Representatives asking for a ceasefire in Palestine since November 2023. 

Questions? Please contact MARUF CT co-founders Vina McDermott, Hend Elsantaricy and Mergima Alarnaout at info@marufct.org

MARUF-CT Co-Founder, Mergima Alarnaout, and Medea Benjamin, Co-Founder of CODEPINK, will deliver letters from Connecticut organizations and residents to, respectively, the Hartford and Washington, D.C. offices of U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. These letters urge the Senators to support Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) concerning U.S. arms sales to Israel. The letters, which include signatures from over a dozen organizations and hundreds of Connecticut residents, ask the Senators to co-sponsor and vote in favor of the resolutions introduced by Senators Sanders, Welch, Schatz, and Merkley. MARUF-CT Co-Founder, Mergima Alarnaout: “This effort is in partnership with Peace Action and more than 30 other states and organizations across the country.”   

Vina McDermott, MARUF-CT Co-Founder: “Along with the letters, we have made hundreds of calls, through our phone banking efforts, to urge the Senators to co-sponsor and support the JRDs.”

The JRDs seek to block specific U.S. arms sales to Israel, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) and tank shells, which have been used in airstrikes and ground assaults resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including aid workers and journalists. Independent human rights organizations and conflict monitors have extensively documented the Israeli military’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons in attacks on Gaza. These weapons have caused significant civilian casualties in densely populated areas, as well as widespread destruction of infrastructure. President Biden has publicly referred to these attacks as “indiscriminate.” The proposed resolutions would prevent the transfer of certain weapons systems, such as JDAMs and tank shells, which have been used in these devastating attacks. The resolutions do not affect missile defense systems.

Ongoing Israeli military actions have resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, and left Gaza’s hospitals, schools, and essential infrastructure in ruins. Human rights organizations have condemned the Israeli military for violating international humanitarian law, while humanitarian groups warn that Gaza faces a dire humanitarian crisis. MARUF-CT Co Founder, Hend Elsantaricy: “Blocking the delivery of food, medicine, and other much-needed humanitarian aid, has added to widespread starvation and the threat of preventable diseases, including polio.”

Continuing to supply weapons to the Israeli government in the face of these abuses runs counter to U.S. law and the Biden administration’s own arms transfer policy, which prohibits arms sales to countries involved in human rights violations and violations of international law.

The U.S. Senate will soon have the opportunity to take a stand against further civilian suffering by supporting these resolutions. We urge Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, along with all members of the Senate, to support the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval and vote in favor of upholding the rule of law and protecting innocent lives.

MARUF-CT (Muslim Advocacy for Rights, Unity, & Fairness) is a grassroots organization founded in 2024. MARUF-CT strives to educate and mobilize Connecticut's Muslim communities and their allies to proactively engage and raise awareness on critical issues of human rights and democracy.

For more information, please contact MARUF-CT co-founders Hend Elsantaricy, Mergima Alarnaout, or Vina McDermott at info@marufct.org.

[Hartford, CT] – October 3, 2024 – MARUF CT, a Connecticut-based advocacy organization dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, continues its calls for an immediate ceasefire and expresses profound concern for the safety and well-being of community members with family and loved ones in Lebanon and Palestine. In addition to the on-going disastrous death toll amongst Palestinian civilians, recent military escalation by Israel has resulted in alarming loss of innocent Lebanese lives, causing considerable distress and anxiety among Connecticut families with ties to the region.

In response to this crisis, MARUF CT is coordinating with Connecticut senators, representatives, and the State Department to equip families with critical information and resources.

Lebanese Americans in need of assistance evacuating themselves and/or their immediate family members from Lebanon should complete the Lebanon - Crisis Intake Form https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake (through the State Department Task Force) immediately.

MARUF CT will host a community meeting Sunday, October 6, at 7PM, ONLINE to share further information obtained from a briefing with the State Department and discuss the need for a dedicated network of support and assistance for Lebanese and Palestinian Americans in Connecticut. Recognizing the urgent need to connect our community members with the appropriate channels of support, MARUF CT will be facilitating connections with:

● US State Department officials

● Respective members of Congress

● National civil rights and human rights organizations

Hend Elsantaricy, MARUF CT co-founder: “The Muslim community in Connecticut stands in solidarity with all those affected by the violence in Palestine and Lebanon. We remain committed to advocating for justice and freedom for Palestinians and all people throughout the MENA region.”

MARUF-CT (Muslim Advocacy for Rights, Unity, & Fairness) is a grassroots organization founded in 2024 through the efforts of the CT Phone Bank for Palestine group. The CT Phone Bank group consists of concerned Connecticut citizens who have made over 22,000 calls to US Senators and Representatives asking for a ceasefire in Palestine since November 2023. MARUF-CT strives to educate and mobilize Connecticut's Muslim communities and their allies to proactively engage and raise awareness on critical issues of human rights and democracy.

Questions? Please contact MARUF CT co-founders Vina McDermott and Hend Elsantaricy at info@marufct.org