“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:
- >200 Gazans killed this week, many near aid sites. Starvation death toll reaches 115. Food supply is so low that doctors and workers are fainting.
- Israel expels Gazans in central Gaza. Israeli violence in the West Bank heats up, as the parliament approves symbolic measure calling for annexation.
- Dozens of nations are pressuring Israel to end the genocide in Gaza, with France saying it will recognize a Palestinian state.
- Trump’s administration “strongly” rejected France’s recognition of Palestine, and many are combating Trump’s abuse of power, including judges and senators.
Takeaways:
- Destruction in Gaza hasn’t let up, and has accelerated into extreme starvation.
- As Israel’s brutality continues, even the West is starting to recognize Palestine.
- Yet America’s federal government remains a staunch supporter of Israel, despite mounting pressure from the people.
As your constituents we urge you to:
- Publicly condemn Israel’s brutality, including starvation.
- Support initiatives that combat Trump’s criminality.
- Join others in calling for the recognition of Palestine.
- Divest from Israel-supporting businesses.
Hunger’s Tipping Point
- Scores killed in Gaza.
- Israel’s extermination doesn’t let up.
- 7/20 – 115 Gazans killed, many shot near aid sites. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/21 – 65 Gazans killed across Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/24 – >62 Gazans killed. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/26 – >70 Gazans killed. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/25 – UNRWA report: [UNRWA]
- 1.9M Gazans displaced since Oct 7th
- >762,500 Gazans displaced since March 18th
- 59,219 Gazans killed since Oct 7th
- 973 West Bank Palestinians killed since Oct 7th, 167 in 2025.
- ~52 Gazans died of starvation this week.
- 7/21 – 18 Gazans starved to death within 72 hours. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/22 – >15 Gazans, 4 children, starved to death in a single day. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/23 – 10 starvation deaths in Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/24 – Starvation death toll reaches 115 in Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/22 – UN: famine in Gaza is at the most horrific stage of Israel’s starvation campaign. [Al Jazeera]
- Israel’s extermination doesn’t let up.
- Israel’s creative cruelty
- 7/20 – Israeli troops have pepper-sprayed aid seekers in Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/20 – Israel issued forced evacuation warning for central Gaza, moving them south despite it being an area Israel regularly attacked. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/21 – Israeli undercover force detained senior Gaza Health Ministry official. [Reuters]
- 7/21 – Israeli tanks pushed into Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. [BBC]
- 7/22 – UN: doctors and humanitarian workers were fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion. [Reuters]
- 7/21 – Israeli military attacked WHO’s staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah. [WHO]
- 7/23 – Norwegian Refugee Council’s supplies were exhausted, some staff starving. [NRC]
- 7/23 – UN Special Rapporteur: Palestinian women and girls are deliberate targets for the Israeli army to stop Palestinian continuity. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/24 – Israel says it let enough food into Gaza, and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza’s 2.2 million people. [Reuters]
- 7/25 – Due to Israel’s inadequacy, it must allow foreign countries to parachute aid into Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/25 – US government analysis revealed no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of humanitarian supplies. [Reuters]
- Crimes in the West Bank
- 7/24 – 2 Palestinian teenagers killed by Israeli forces in al-Khader, West Bank. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/24 – Israel’s parliament approved a symbolic measure calling for annexation of the West Bank. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/24 – Israeli settlers are more brazenly attacking Palestinians. [Al Jazeera]
Death toll due to starvation in Gaza rises to 115, amidst Israeli attacks. [Al Jazeera]
Plea of 25 Nations
- International pressure
- 7/21 – Pope Leo opposed forced displacement of Palestinians. [AP]
- 7/21 – Belgium’s King Philippe: abuses in Gaza are a “disgrace to humanity”. [Reuters]
- 7/21 – 25 Western countries, including the UK and Canada, said Israel must immediately end its war in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/22 – EU: all options on the table if Israel does not deliver on its pledges for aid in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/22 – Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch: condemned Israel’s bombardment and blockade of Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/23 – German Chancellor under pressure to take a firmer stance on Israel. [Reuters]
- 7/23 – Brazil is to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel’s actions in Gaza. [Middle-East Eye]
- 7/23 – Canada denounced Israel’s operations against civilians and aid workers in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/24 – UK Prime Minister to hold an emergency call with France and Germany over situation in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/24 – France will recognize Palestinian state in September. [PBS]
- 7/26 – Arab countries will condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament. [Reuters]
- Organizations call out
- 7/22 – >100 largely aid and rights groups called for governments to take action in Gaza, including by demanding immediate ceasefire. [ABC]
- 7/24 – Boston Consulting Group: some US-based staff sidestepped risk controls to do work related to the GHF. [Reuters]
- 7/26 – UNRWA: aid airdrops are a dangerous “distraction” and could kill starving Palestinians. [Al Jazeera]
France’s President says France will recognize Palestine as a state. [PBS]
Trump’s Love of War
- Trump shows continual rejection of Palestine
- 7/21 – Federal judge blocked enforcement of Trump’s targeting of ICC workers. [Reuters]
- 7/22 – Mahmoud Khalil met with lawmakers in D.C., showing how pro-Palestinian sentiment is accessible still. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/23 – Columbia University suspends or expels ~80 students over Gaza protests. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/24 – US will not attend an upcoming conference on a two-state solution. [Reuters]
- 7/24 – >50% of Democrats in US Senate called on Trump to conduct an independent investigation into death of Saif Musallet. [Reuters]
- 7/24 – US doctors and veterans urge Trump to end Israel support outside the US Capitol. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/25 – Netanyahu and Trump appeared to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations; Hamas said talks had been constructive. [Reuters]
- 7/25 – Marco Rubio: Washington “strongly rejects” Macron’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state. [Al Jazeera]
US will not attend a two-state conference at the UN. [Reuters]