“Bismillaahir-rahmaanir raheem”
(In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful)
Watermelon Wednesday is a weekly brief shared with our elected officials to ensure they are aware of Israel’s aggression, the Palestinian experience, and our country’s complicity in this genocide and international war crimes.
TL;DR:
- >300 Gazans killed, as Israel moves forward with its plan to take over Gaza City, despite participating in ceasefire discussions. Gaza is officially under famine.
- Global condemnation of Israel’s crimes continues growing. Norway deepened divestment as Israel moves to sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
- America’s complicity shows as America finances Israel’s $500M purchase of aircraft equipment and as Trump institutes policies against free speech.
Takeaways:
- Israel is simultaneously participating in ceasefire talks and escalating destruction in Gaza City, in parallel with instituting mass starvation.
- The world is pushing back on Israel’s cruelty through divestment, resignations, ship vetting, and diplomatic clashes.
- Amidst Gaza’s bombardment and starvation, Trump’s administration is the lone supporter of Israel, even as Senators and citizens urge against it.
As your constituents we urge you to:
- Push for free aid entry into Gaza.
- Denounce Israel’s West Bank expansion.
- Support initiatives for peace and free speech.
- Divest from Israel-supporting businesses.
Israeli-Manufactured Chaos
- Amidst ceasefire talks, Israel begins takeover of Gaza City alongside famine.
- >300 Gazans killed via airstrikes, near aid, Gaza City, and elsewhere:
- 8/17 – >57 Gazans killed, many near aid. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/18 – >26 Gazans killed in Israeli strikes. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/19 – >40 Gazans killed, especially in Gaza City. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/20 – >81 Gazans killed, many near aid. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/22 – >71 Gazans killed, 2 via starvation. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/23 – >63 Gazans killed, especially in Gaza City. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/22 – UNRWA report: [UNRWA]
- 1.9M Gazans displaced since Oct 7th
- >796,000 Gazans displaced since March 18th 2025
- >62,122 Gazans killed since Oct 7th
- 995 Palestinians in West Bank killed since Oct 7th
- 8/18 – Hamas accepted a 60-day ceasefire deal with Israel involving half the hostages’ release and some Palestinian prisoners freed. [Reuters]
- 8/19 – Since announcing plans to expel Gazans to the south, Israel attacked displacement shelters in Gaza City. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/19 – Aid groups have not been able to deliver shelter materials into Gaza, despite Israel saying it would lift restrictions. [UN]
- 8/21 – Israel announced first steps to take over Gaza City, while considering a new ceasefire. [AP]
- 8/21 – 83% of Gaza war dead are civilians, according to Israel. [Haaretz]
- 8/22 – Gaza is officially under famine. [IPC]
- >300 Gazans killed via airstrikes, near aid, Gaza City, and elsewhere:
- Dissent in and crimes by Israel.
- 8/17 – Nationwide strike in Israel, calling on Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas. [CNBC]
- 8/18 – Israel’s foreign minister revoked visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority. [ABC]
- 8/20 – An Israeli settlement plan that would cut across Palestinian land received final approval. [Reuters]
- 8/20 – Israel called up 60,000 reservists in plan to extend the war, while lengthening service of 20,000 reservists. [NPR]
- 8/22 – Netanyahu said Israel will resume negotiations for release of all hostages in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 8/23 – The Israeli military has destroyed ~3,000 olive trees near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. [Al Jazeera]
Israel has instituted simultaneous bombardment, famine, and displacement in Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
Israel in Isolation
- Condemnations persist alongside concrete action.
- 8/19 – Netanyahu argued that Australia’s Prime Minister forsook Australia’s Jewish community by recognizing Palestinian statehood. [Reuters]
- 8/19 – UN: 383 aid workers were killed last year worldwide, nearly half in Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/20 – UK: an Israeli settlement plan would constitute a breach of international law and risk dividing a future Palestinian state. [Reuters]
- 8/21 – UN Palestinian refugee chief warned Gaza children risk death from malnutrition without urgent aid. [Reuters]
- 8/22 – Foreign ministers from Europe, Australia, and Britain condemned Israel’s plans to construct a settlement east of Jerusalem. [Reuters]
- Action paired with condemnation.
- 8/18 – Norway’s sovereign wealth fund divested from another 6 Israeli companies. [Reuters]
- 8/19 – Cyprus dispatched 1,200 metric tons of aid for Gaza by sea. [AP]
- 8/20 – Italian Football Coaches’ Association (AIAC) pushed for Israel to be suspended from international competition over Gaza. [AP]
- 8/21 – Turkish ports informally require shippers to declare no ties or hazardous cargo bound for Israel. [Middle-East Eye]
- 8/22 – Dutch Foreign Minister quit his cabinet post over the government’s disapproval of measures against Israel. [AP]
- 8/23 – The Turkish First Lady wrote to the US First Lady, urging her to contact Netanyahu and free the children of Gaza. [BBC]
Norway’s wealth fund, the largest in the world, divested from 6 more Israeli companies. [Reuters]
Pleas on Deaf Ears
- Trump limits free speech, shakes hands with Israel, and ignores citizens’ pleas.
- 8/18 – HEAL Palestine and others warned the U.S. visa halt for Gazans blocks wounded children from treatment. [Reuters]
- 8/19 – Top Israeli cybersecurity official arrested in Nevada operation targeting “child sex predators”. [Reuters]
- 8/20 – Israel plans to buy two Boeing-made military aerial refuelling tankers in a $500M deal, financed with military aid. [Reuters]
- 8/20 – 58% of Americans believe every country in the UN should recognize Palestinian statehood. [Reuters]
- 8/20 – Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on judges and prosecutors at the ICC. [AP]
- 8/20 – Trump’s administration said it will assess visa applications for “anti-Americanism”. [CBS]
- 8/21 – 17 U.S. Senators urged action after Israeli attacks on journalists, calling for foreign media access to Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
Israel is to purchase various aircraft equipment in a $500M deal, financed with US military aid. [Reuters]