“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.
Starvation grips Gaza and mourning echoes across faiths as Israel’s onslaught persists. Global outrage grows as shelters are pummeled, food supplies vanish, and aid workers are killed. Yet, America’s silence remains defeaning. The following summarizes last week’s events, documenting systematic cruelty, international resistance, and moral failures from American leadership.
Gaza Starves, Mourns, and Burns
- Israel’s torment of Gaza extends to inhumane malnutrition, all while Gazan Christians mourn a light of hope.
- 4/21 – The Palestinian Red Crescent said the Israeli military report into the killing of 15 paramedics was “full of lies”. [BBC]
- 4/22 – Gaza’s Christian community mourns the death of Pope Francis, who consistently video-called them during the devastation. [Al Jazeera]
- 4/24 – Israel deleted condolence posts about the late Pope Francis from its account, directing its missions around the world to follow. [Haaretz]
- 4/25 – The World Food Programme has officially run out of food stocks in Gaza, which supported bakeries and hot meal kitchens. [WFP]
- Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continues as the numbers rack up.
- 4/23 – >10 people killed in an Israeli attack that sparked a fire at a school shelter in Gaza City. [Reuters]
- 4/23 – Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed 39 people and injured 105 in one day. [Al Jazeera]
- 4/24 – Around 500,000 people have been forcibly displaced since March 18th; 311 UNRWA installations damaged; >290 UNRWA members killed. [UNRWA]
- 4/24 – >59 people killed in an Israeli bombardment across Gaza. [Al Jazeera]
- 4/26 – 13 killed with many more under rubble as Israel bombs Gaza amid food outage. [Al Jazeera]
The WFP has officially run out of food in Gaza [WFP]
International Support Turns into Action
- The rest of the world continues to call for and act for peace in Palestine.
- 4/23 – Germany, France, and Britain jointly called on Israel to allow unhindered passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza. [Washington Post]
- 4/24 – Spain has unilaterally canceled a contract to purchase ammunition rounds for its police from an Israeli firm. [Reuters]
- 4/25 – France helped evacuate 115 people from Gaza this week, those now arriving in France. [Reuters]
- 4/25 – Canada’s Prime Minister urged Israel to allow the WFP to work in Gaza. [CBC]
America and Israel’s Disregard
- The U.S. and Israel continue showing signs of deepened lack of care for human dignity.
- 4/22 – Mahmoud Khalil denied release from detainment for his son’s birth. [Al Jazeera]
- 4/24 – 12 people were killed in the U.S. strike in a neighborhood in Sanaa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [Reuters]
- 4/25 – Israel will only send its ambassador to the Vatican for the Pope’s funeral, instead of its head of state. [Middle-East Eye]
Israel will have strangely-low representation at Pope Francis’s funeral [Reuters]
Takeaways
- Israel’s lack of dignity extends to dishonoring the Pope.
- Israel’s devastation of Gaza leaves the entire strip without food.
- The entire world is showing Palestinian support through action, except America.
As your constituents we expect you to:
- Ensure human dignity is respected.
- Recognize when rights are violated.
- Act with courage to repair the broken.