Watermelon Wednesday #27: Recognition at UNGA, Freedom at Sea

“Bismillaahir-rahmaanir raheem”

(In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful)

TL;DR:

  • >500 Gazans killed this week as Israel continues its offensive on Gaza City, shutting down hospitals and leveling residential buildings.
  • At the UN General Assembly, nearly a dozen Western countries recognize Palestine’s statehood, and several more explicitly push for peace in Gaza.
  • The global civilian push grows, as Denmark divests, Italians march and block ports, and as Italy, Spain, and Greece support the threatened Sumud Flotilla.
  • Trump simultaneously condemns Palestinian statehood and Palestinian annexation, as his administration continues suppressing free speech.

Takeaways:

  • While politicians bicker, Gazans continue being slaughtered overseas.
  • The US is isolated against the world’s support of Palestine.
  • The Flotilla, with Americans on board, is under threat and needs US support.
  • Trump’s administration preaches peace but acts against it.

As your constituents we urge you to:

  • Push for de-escalation in Gaza City.
  • Join the world in recognizing Palestinian statehood.
  • Call for US defense of its citizens aboard the Flotilla.
  • Protect freedom of speech in America.
  • Divest from Israel-supporting businesses.

Diplomacy Amid Demolition

  • As Netanyahu preaches cooperation overseas, Israel continues level Gaza
    • >500 Gazans killed this week, concentrated in Gaza City:
    • 9/22 – UNRWA report: [UNRWA]
      • >1M displaced since March 18th
      • >65,062 Gazans killed since Oct 7th
      • 995 Palestinians in West Bank killed since Oct 7th
    • 9/21 – Israeli drone strike kills 5 people, including 3 children, in southern Lebanon. [Reuters]
    • 9/22 – 2 Gaza City hospitals taken out of service due to escalation of Israel’s ground offensive. [Reuters]
    • 9/24 – Israeli forces shoot dead a 19-year-old during a raid near Jenin. [Al Jazeera]
    • 9/25 – Israeli forces advance deeper into Gaza City as Netanyahu heads to New York. [Reuters]
    • 9/26 – Community kitchens and health clinics have closed and vital flows of food have slowed in Gaza. [Reuters]

Citizens of Gaza City have been forced to flee south into tent cities. [Reuters]

Statehood and Seafarers

  • Israel and the US isolated at the UN General Assembly
    • The following Western countries just recognized Palestinian statehood:
    • The following have called for peace in Gaza at the UN General Assembly:
      • Turkey
      • Qatar
      • Jordan
      • South Africa
      • Sri Lanka
      • Senegal
      • Malta
      • EU
      • The US
      • Etc.
    • 9/22 – Singapore to impose targeted sanctions on leaders of Israeli settler groups. [Reuters]
    • 9/25 – The Palestinian Authority’s President was forced to deliver his address to the UNGA via video. [Al Jazeera]
    • 9/26 – Slovenia imposed a travel ban on Netanyahu. [Reuters]
  • The Flotilla inches closer as the international community reacts to support
    • 9/22 – Tens of thousands march on Rome and dockworkers block ports in solidarity with Palestine. [Reuters]
    • 9/24 – Danish fund manager AkademikerPension excludes Israeli state assets from its investment portfolio. [Reuters]
    • 9/24 – Global Sumud Flotilla organizers reported hearing explosions and seeing multiple drone attacks from their boats. [Al Jazeera]
    • 9/25 – Italy and Spain deploy naval ships to assist the Global Sumud Flotilla. [Reuters]
    • 9/25 – Greece to guarantee safe passage of Flotilla boats currently in its waters. [Reuters]
    • 9/26 – Switzerland plans to take ~20 injured Gazan children for medical treatment. [Reuters]

The Global Sumud Flotilla civilian aid ship was illegally hit by drone attacks, as countries show support. [Al Jazeera]

America Isolated

  • Dissonance as Trump decries pro-Palestinian sentiment, but opposes annexation
    • 9/23 – Trump showed isolation as the US was the only major Western power to decry recognition of Palestinian statehood. [Reuters]
    • 9/25 – Trump said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. We need politicians to support this claim. [Reuters]
    • 9/25 – Microsoft disabled some services used by the Israeli military due to its mass surveillance of Palestinian phone calls. [Reuters]
    • 9/27 – US to revoke the Colombian President’s visa after he participated in a pro-Palestine celebration. [Reuters]

While opposing West Bank annexation, Trump condemns the wave of recognition of Palestinian statehood. [Al Jazeera]

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