“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:
- Israel toys with the ceasefire, including by killing ~20 Gazans and delaying aid openings. Released Palestinians reveal extreme torture in Israeli prisons.
- Amid the olive harvest season, Israeli settlers attack about 71 times within a week, resulting in arson, use of bulldozers, and forced labor.
- Countries are sending millions of dollars of aid to Gaza, with still a strong need for more.
- Trump intervened in Netanyahu’s corruption trial; applauded a donor’s influence of American support of Israel. A Congressman returned AIPAC donations.
Takeaways:
- Israel is violating several ceasefire agreements, including restricting aid and continuing assault.
- The West Bank is facing escalated terrorism by Israeli settlers and soldiers.
- Gaza needs financial aid for reconstruction.
- Trump is openly supporting corruption, both at home and abroad.
As your constituents we urge you to:
- Call for a complete end to the killing in Gaza, and a start to the flow of aid.
- Demand immediate penalties for those responsible for war crimes.
- Combat the use of money to influence governmental policies.
- Divest from Israel-supporting businesses, and use those funds at home.
Broken Promises, Overt Terrorism
- Amid ceasefire, Israel kills Gazans, blocks aid, and reveals prisoner torture
- ~20 Gazans killed by Israel, despite the ceasefire:
- 10/14 – 6 Gazans killed by Israeli forces. [Reuters]
- 10/16 – 3 Gazans killed by Israeli forces. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/18 – 11 Gazans killed by Israeli forces. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/13 – UNRWA report: [UNRWA]
- 67,183 Gazans killed since Oct. 7th
- 1.2M displaced since March 18th
- 999 West Bank Palestinians killed since Oct 7th
- 10/12 – Journalist Saleh Aljafarawi killed during clashes in Gaza City, just after the ceasefire agreement. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/13 – Many Palestinian prisoners are to be deported to third world countries after being released by Israel. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/14 – Trump declared the end of the two-year long war, the same day 6 Gazans were killed. [Reuters]
- 10/14 – Released Palestinian detainees explain how they experienced torture in Israeli jails. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/17 – Many bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel to Gaza show signs of torture and execution. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/17 – Palestinian groups have had to request help and heavy machinery to search for bodies still trapped under the rubble. [Al Jazeera]
- ~20 Gazans killed by Israel, despite the ceasefire:
- “Ceasefire” progress, as tens of Israeli captives are exchanged for thousands of Palestinians
- 10/12 – Hamas released 7 Israeli captives into the custody of the International Red Cross. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/13 – All 20 living Israeli captives have been released in Gaza. This should trigger the release of ~2,000 Palestinian prisoners. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/14 – First batch of bodies of Palestinians killed has arrived in Gaza after being released by Israel, with hundreds still being withheld. [Reuters]
- 10/14 – Israel will only allow half the agreed number of aid trucks into Gaza starting Wednesday. [Reuters]
- 10/16 – Israel again delayed reopening of Gaza’s Rafah crossing to allow for movement of people. [Al Jazeera]
- Extreme West Bank terrorism during the olive harvest season
- 10/16 – OCHA update on the West Bank: [OCHA]
- >3,200 West Bank Palestinians injured in 2025.
- 2 Palestinians killed, 156 injured, between 10/7/25 and 10/13/25.
- 71 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in casualties and/or property damage, between 10/7/25 and 10/13/25.
- Attacks increased in the context of the current olive harvest season.
- 10/14 – Palestinians see “new Nakba” in West Bank villages, with demolitions rising. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/15 – Israeli soldiers and settlers commit arson, use bulldozers, and force labor from West Bank Palestinians in Tulkarem. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/16 – OCHA update on the West Bank: [OCHA]
Freed Palestinian detainees have revealed extreme torture in Israeli prisons, with some released being deported. [Al Jazeera]
Calls for Aid
- Countries worldwide send aid
- 10/12 – Britain to send ~$27M in aid to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 10/14 – Turkey sends a ship with 900 tonnes of food for Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 10/14 – European and Arab nations, Canada, and the US appear willing to contribute ~$70B for Gaza reconstruction. [Reuters]
- 10/14 – UN: the war had produced rubble equal to 13 times the Pyramids of Giza. [Reuters]
- 10/15 – UN is seeking a dramatic boost in humanitarian aid to Gaza. [Reuters]
Turkey is sending a ship with 900 tons of aid for Gaza, along with many other countries sending aid. [Al Jazeera]
Proud Corruption
- Trump boldly shows his support of corruption as he flaunts his ego
- 10/12 – “The war is over”, said Trump, the same week Israeli stalls aid and kills ~20 Gazans. [Reuters]
- 10/13 – Trump urged Israel’s President to pardon Netanyahu’s corruption trial. [Reuters]
- 10/13 – Trump, at Israel’s parliament, spotlighted mega-donor Miriam Delson’s outsized influence of US policy towards Israel, outwardly flaunting corruption. [Reuters]
- 10/16 – Democrat Seth Moulton said he will return donations from AIPAC, a trend we need to support. [Al Jazeera]
Trump applauded Miriam Adelson for her use of monetary influence over America’s policies towards Israel. [Reuters]