“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 as aid airdrops begin; 1 in 3 go days without food. Several West Bank Palestinians, including an American, were killed.
- Two Israeli human rights groups have labeled the Gaza campaign a genocide, as settlers express readiness to move in.
- Slovenia imposed an arms embargo on Israel, and several Western nations plan to recognize Palestinian statehood.
- A UN conference showed broad support for a two-state solution. Trump boycotted it, opposes Palestinian statehood, and sanctioned PLO members.
- Two resolutions to block arms sales to Israel have been blocked by the Senate.
Takeaways:
- Israel hasn’t yet let up its cruelty amidst mounting pressure.
- Pressure is working, as Western countries have even recognized Palestinian statehood, while imposing an embargo and calling for a two-state solution.
- Yet Trump’s America remains the only Western nation in strong support of Israel.
As your constituents we urge you to:
- Push for action that safely feeds Gaza.
- Support legislation that cuts economic ties with Israel.
- Join the West in calling for the recognition of Palestine.
- Divest from Israel-supporting businesses.
Air Aid, Ground Atrocities
- Aid airdrops amidst genocide
- While allowing air airdrops, Israel continues its cruelty.
- 7/27 – >63 Gazans killed, after Israel announced its “pausing” of attacks. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/28 – >43 Gazans killed, many near aid sites. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/30 – >71 Gazans killed, many near aid sites. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/1 – UNRWA report: [UNRWA]
- 1.9M Gazans displaced since Oct 7th
- >767,800 Gazans displaced since March 18th
- >60,138 Gazans killed since Oct 7th
- 993 West Bank Palestinians killed since Oct 7th, 167 in 2025.
- 7/27 – Jordan and UAE parachute 25 tons of aid into Gaza, first airdrop in months. [Reuters]
- 7/27 – UN: <8% of WFP trucks make it to their destination in Gaza in the past 10 weeks. The rest are looted. [Reuters]
- 7/27 – Israel generously halted the genocide for 10 hours a day in Gaza. [NPR]
- 7/27 – >11 Palestinians have been injured due to aid airdrops. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/28 – Germany will launch an aid airlift into Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/28 – >14 Gazans have died from malnutrition. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/30 – Doctors fear starvation may be causing irreversible harm. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/30 – Gaza mothers forced to give babies water as milk and formula run out. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/1 – Trump’s special envoy travelled to Gaza to inspect aid distribution. Elsewhere in Gaza Israeli forces killed >36 near aid. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/2 – UNICEF: 1-in-3 people in Gaza go days without food. [Al Jazeera]
- While allowing air airdrops, Israel continues its cruelty.
- West Bank violence
- 7/29 – Palestinian activist Owdeh Hathaleen, consultant for documentary “No Other Land”, was shot and killed by West Bank settlers. [Reuters]
- 7/30 – Israeli settlers accused of severing water and electricity sources. [Reuters]
- 7/31 – Palestinian man killed by Israeli settlers in West Bank via arson against vehicles and homes. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/31 – Israeli authorities have been detaining an American teenager for ~6 months without trial for throwing rocks at Israeli settlers. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/1 – Khamis Ayyad, an American citizen in the West Bank, was killed. His relatives are calling on Trump to open an investigation. [Al Jazeera]
- Disorder in Israel
- 7/28 – Two Israeli human rights organizations said Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. [AP]
- 7/29 – For killing a Palestinian activist, the Israeli murderer was simply put under house arrest. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/31 – Israeli settlers say they are “ready to move into Gaza right away”, calling for the illegal expulsion of Palestinians. [Al Jazeera]
- 8/1 – Israelis protested against the Gazan genocide in Tel Aviv, clashing with police. [Al Jazeera]
Jordan and UAE drop aid into Gaza in first airdrop in months, as Israel continues its genocide. [Reuters]
Chorus Builds for Palestine
- Countries planning on recognizing a Palestinian state in September:
- Economic pressure on Israel
- 7/27 – Israel raided the Handala ship, carrying aid for Gaza in international waters. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/28 – UN Secretary-General: Israel’s creeping annexation of West Bank is illegal, Gaza’s destruction is intolerable. [UN]
- 7/29 – The Dutch government summoned Israel’s ambassador to denounce the “unbearable and indefensible” situation in Gaza. [Reuters]
- 7/31 – France: US and Israel-backed aid system in Gaza had generated a “bloodbath” and should cease activity. [Reuters]
- 7/31 – Slovenia imposed an embargo on exports, imports, and transit of arms to Israel. [Middle-East Eye]
- 7/31 – 58 former EU envoys urged the EU to end arms exports, sanction Israel, and act to stop atrocity crimes. [Al Jazeera]
- Support for a two-state solution.
Saudi Arabia and France urged the UN to support a two-state solution. America boycotted the conference. [UN]
Trump’s Hypocrisy
- While admitting Gaza’s starvation, Trump vehemently opposes Palestine.
- 7/28 – Trump said the priority in Gaza was getting people fed. We need officials to support this. [Reuters]
- 7/28 – The US boycotted a UN conference urging the world to work towards a two-state solution. [US State]
- 7/29 – US Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested Israel is committing a genocide. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/29 – Trump said Israel would do a “good job” of aid delivery in Gaza. Hundreds have died near Israel’s aid sites. [Al Jazeera]
- 7/29 – Only 32% of Americans approve of Israel’s action in Gaza. [Gallup]
- 7/31 – Two resolutions to block arms sales to Israel have been blocked in the US Senate, although support is growing, and needs help. [Haaretz]
- 7/31 – As other Western powers move towards recognition of Palestinian statehood, the US imposed sanctions on PLO members. [US State]
The US Senate rejected resolutions to block arms sales to Israel, despite increased backing. [Reuters]