What We Do
We have one Mission:
Helping Non-Combatants Leave Gaza.
To achieve our Mission, we must continually pursue all of the following:
– Liaise with Israeli Government Officials to ensure passage for non-combatants.
– Perform outreach to hosting partner nations and supporting partner nations
– Report progress on helping non-combatants leave Gaza
– Offer media appearances
– Inform the public as to topics relevant to our Mission.
Partner Countries
One of Gaza Passage’s primary functions is to maximize the assistance from nations interested in our mission to help avert a humanitarian crisis. Gaza Passage expects all nations to value and respect the ability of non-combatants to escape a war zone.
Partner types include:
– Hosting Partner Nations
– Supporting Partner Nations
– Israeli Government
We also have media partners. See “Press” section.
Check back for updates on countries that support our Mission.
Working Group
Washington University School of Law Alumni (including an international war crimes investigator) with diverse political backgrounds started Gaza Passage to attract like-minded group of international attorneys who share the single goal of helping non-combatants leave Gaza to avoid a humanitarian crisis during the war (October 2023). The Working Group includes:
American conservatives and liberals, African Americans and Jews. It has expanded to include International attorneys, liaisons to both the Israeli and American governments, and outreach resources.
WORKING GROUP ADVISORS
Dr. Isaac Amon, JD, LLM, JSD
Dr. Amon is an international legal scholar with significant experience as a war crimes investigator. He has experience working at the United Nations and served as a Legal Atrocity Crimes Investigator for an NGO from 2019-2021. In 2023, Dr. Amon earned Missouri Bar Foundation’s W. Oliver Rasch Award for best legal writing. (LinkedIn bio.)
Dr. Amon has earned three law degrees from Washington Unversity School of Law where he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law. He is the current Director of Academic Research & Program Development at the Jewish Heritage Alliance.
Christopher Bedell, JD
Christopher Bedell is an Associate at Polsinelli based in St. Louis, Missouri. Much of Mr. Bedell’s practice consists of working with government entities and elected officials. He serves as Chairman and Affording Housing Representative to the City of St. Louis’ Building Energy Improvement Board. He also was nominated to serve as the youngest Commissioner of the St. Louis County Planning Commission in 30 years. He is active in Missouri’s Democratic Party. He also runs a citizen discussion group with candidates seeking office.
Mr. Bedell has harbored a long-term interest in Middle East Affairs. He is double-degreed from Washington University where he earned his JD. (LinkedIn bio).
Erielle Davidson
Erielle Davidson is an Associate at Holtzman Vogel in Washington, D.c. Prior to joining the firm, she clerked for the Hon. Steven Menashi on Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Davidson brings to GazaPassage her past experience as the Associate Director of the Center for the Middle East and International Law at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia School of Law.
Ms Davidson served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Law and Public Policy at Georgetown Law where she earned her Juris Doctor. She majored in Russian at Middlebury College prior to law school.
Ms. Davidson is an active political writer in US publications (@politicalelle).
Pat Eckler
Donald “Pat” Eckler is an attorney and legal commentator based out of Chicago, Illinois. His legal accomplishments include: Partner at Freeman, Mathis, & Gary, LLP, Secretary/Treasurer of Illinois Defense Counsel, Member of DRI Taskforce on TPLF, and Co-host of Podium and Panel Podcast.
Mr. Eckler is widely known as having a prodigious knowledge of civil procedure which he shares regularly with his network.
Mr. Eckler is a former college basketball coach and has earned degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Florida. (LinkedIn Bio.)
Adam Florek
Adam Florek is a litigator based out of Chicago. He is Of Counsel at at nationwide firm Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise (with office in St. Louis). Mr. Florek’s practice is focused on all types of civil, commercial, and class litigation. After law school, he clerked for the Hon. Charles R. Norgle at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Hon. William J. Bauer at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Mr. Florek received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois Chicago’s John Marshall Law School where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law. (LinkedIn bio.)
Jerome Marcus
Jerome Marcus is a litigator based in Philadelphia and the President of The Deborah Project, a public interest law firm helping people affected by anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on American university campuses. He is also a fellow at the Kohelet Policy Forum where his work relates to the law of war and Israel’s policies on that topic. Mr. Marcus is a former United States federal prosecutor.
He has earned three degrees from the University of Chicago – undergraduate, business, and law. (LinkedIn bio).
Antonio Valiente
Antonio Valiente serves as Director and Deputy General Counsel for all of Latin America of International Payments Innovator Athena Bitcoin Global. Mr. Valiente formerly served as General Counsel of Wal Mart Inc. (Puerto Rico). He resides in Puerto Rico where he serves as country manager of LocalCounseled and his own law firm conducting financial arbitrations. He has served international corporations as counsel for 25 years.
Mr. Valiente attended Fordham University and earned his JD from Inter American University School of Law, for both Common and Civil Law. (LinkedIn bio).
Edward "Coach" Weinhaus
Coach is Contemporary Jewish Issues Commentator, Professor, and Academic having taught at the nation’s top universities including University of Chicago, Washington University, and UCLA. He currently teaches at Yeshiva University in New York. Coach serves as Special Media Advisor to the Chair of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee. Coach’s international background includes earning two European degrees, living abroad in three different countries, and overseeing implementation of bitcoin as legal tender for the only country to do so. (Fuller bio.)
Coach has earned five degrees, including two law degress from Washington University, where he is pursuing his doctorate.
Press
GazaPassage will partner with media companies and programs that are willing to cover the plight of civilians while Gaza remains at significant risk of being a war zone. Stay tuned for more.
About
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and Israel were at war after Hamas’ attacks in Israel. It didn’t take long for the world to realize that the civilian, non-combatant Gazans were stuck in Gaza. Gaza Passage was founded to help the civilians who wish to leave for safety can do so.
The work isn’t easy. Israel has to determine who is and isn’t a combatant. Gaza Passage believes that task is difficult, imperfect, and costly – in lives – on the battlefield. By focusing our efforts on our one goal, we can expedite the process of gaining resources to save lives.
Our first outreach was to people within Israel. Next, we reached out to the United States which has already begun to take action. Next, we intend to publicize to the nations of the world that they too can help.
Our diverse and active Working Group intends to fully update the world on how we all band together to prevent the loss of civilian life in Gaza.
Please join us.
Contact
After connecting on LinkedIn with a message “GP Saves Lives,”
Email Coach @ gazapassage . org
Coach will take it from there. Stay tuned for more contact information.
Outreach Attorneys
GazaPassage is seeking local attorneys in different countries to assist in our Outreach efforts to the nations of the world. If you would like to be an Outreach Coordinator for a country where you practice law, reach out to us. We promise to do the heavy lifting.
News
Trump Election Shakes Egypt, Gazans Report Rafah Crossing to Re-Open on Veteran’s Day
Gazans reported to GazaPassage on Thursday that the Rafah border crossing was to re-open between Gaza and Egypt on November 11. One source shared with GP International Envoy Edward “Coach” Weinhaus, Esq.: “We heard that the Rafah crossing will open at 11-11-2024.” The...
GazaPassage Working Group Demands Answer From Israel’s Cogat With Court Deadline Looming
GazaPassage's Working Group met on Monday, October 21, 2024, to discuss the refusal of Israel's COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) to respond to International Envoy Coach Weinhaus' September 17th letter. Coach sent a follow-up letter on...
GazaPassage Pilot Porgram Over-Subscribed Working Through Security Details in Gaza; Calls For Gazans with Canadian Relatives after Canada Takes The Pledge
The GazaPassage Pilot of 100 participants boasts a list with more than 200 potential participants, according to International Envoy Edward "Coach" Weinhaus. On May 14, 2024, Coach and Abir ElZowidi wrote to the Israeli Security Cabinet demanding security clearance for...
Churches, Palestinians, Jews, International Media Watchdogs, and Lawyers Join Call for Demanding Security Resources From Israel For GazaPassage Pilot Passengers to Escape War Zone
On May 14, 2024, GazaPassage International Envoy Edward “Coach” Weinhaus sent the organization’s letter to the Israeli Security Cabinet demanding Israel devote resources to allow the 100 GazaPassage Pilot participants to exit Gaza. On May 15 both the Ministry of...
GazaPassage Demands Action From Israeli Security Cabinet To Release Pilot Participants After Emergency Meeting; Calls For Signatories
GazaPassage's International Envoy, Edward "Coach" Weinhaus, Esq. sent a letter to the Israeli Security Cabinet, its Observers, and permanent invitees today demanding security resources to allow the 100 GazaPassage Pilot participants to exit Gaza. GazaPassage has given...
GazaPassage On The Ground In Gaza; Bedell Announces Pilot Particpation In Phase V
GazaPassage's work to help non-combatants in Gaza entered its fifth Phase in April. Now, rather than focusing its efforts entirely on the nations of the world, GazaPassage has been working with people on the ground in Gaza. Spokesperson Christopher Bedell made the...
GazaPassage’s Mid-January Phase IV For Financial Assistance Yields Results, Coincides With UNRWA Defunding, Spokesman Bedell
GazaPassage spokesman Christopher Bedell revealed that GazaPassage's Phase IV Funding Framework for humanitarian aid during war has already yielded a success. The group's mission is to save innocent lives by helping non-combatants leave Gazan war zones. Bedell said:...
Gazan Blames Egypt For Humanitarian Crisis
Abu Ali Express reported that a Gazan man called on the Egyptian people to come to the Rafah crossing and bring down the border barrier. "Even if (Egyptian president) al-Sisi doesn't want to, even if the (Egyptian) army doesn't want to, 100-200 thousand Egyptians who...
Russia’s Chechnya Province Prepares for GazaPassage Pledge, 1,200 So Far
Russia's Chechnya province is constructing a Palestinian village in Grozny to house Gazan refugees fleeing the ongoing Israel-Hamas war from the Gaza Strip, according to The Jerusalem Post. So far, Russia has received around 1,200 Gazan refugees from the warfare. The...
Scottish First Minister’s Wife Requests Britain Take GazaPassage Pledge for 1 Brother
The Guardian reported that Nadia El-Nakla, wife of Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf, is pleading with the UK government to let her bring her Palestinian brother to stay in her home, as he remains trapped in war-torn Gaza. El-Nakla's brother had his name removed...