Updated May 8th 9:06pm EST
The United States withheld 3,500 bombs last week out of concern that they might be used in a major assault against the southern Gaza city, officials said. The pause of shipments this week marks the first time the U.S. has publicly held up military aid to Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack. President Biden paused an arms shipment to Israel last week to prevent the U.S.-made weapons from being used in a long-threatened assault on the city of Rafah, administration officials said on Tuesday night, a sign of the growing rift between the United States and Israel over the conduct of the war.
Updated April 15th 5:36pm EST
The United States citizens and their leadership Condemning Iran’s Attack on Israel, Calling for U.S. Steadfast Support & Praying for Peace
Read the statement from New York State Assembly Majority Whip Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn in response to Iran mounting an immense aerial attack on Israel on Saturday night, launching more than 300 drones and missiles:
“Iran’s abhorrent drone and missile strike on Israel last night marks a significant escalation of its destabilizing actions in the region.
While unequivocally denouncing these attacks, I solemnly stand in support with our New York communities – which contain the largest Jewish population outside of Israel – and pray for all those affected, many with family in Israel while Passover is less than 10 days away.
As Israeli jets intercept Iranian threats over Jerusalem’s sacred Old City, it’s crucial for the U.S. to reaffirm unwavering support for Israel’s security.
I join leaders in continuing the call for unrelenting steadfast support for Israel and will continue advocating for its right to self-defense, as we pray for a peaceful resolution, the release of Hamas’ hostages and the ongoing safety of all civilians.”
Updated January 26th 10:21am EST
The ICJ ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide in occupied Gaza and facilitate entry of aid, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.
Updated December 13th 3:30pm EST
153 vote in favor of resolution; Israel, US and just 8 others oppose it; Israeli envoy displays phone number of Hamas offices in Strip: Call Sinwar when you want ‘real’ truce.
The vote in the 193-member world body was 153 in favor, 10 against and 23 abstentions, and ambassadors and other diplomats burst into applause as the final numbers were displayed. The United States and Israel were joined in opposing the resolution by just eight countries — Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.
The General Assembly,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling its resolutions regarding the question of Palestine,
Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions,
Taking note of the letter dated 6 December 2023 from the Secretary-General, under Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations, addressed to the President of the Security Council,
Taking note also of the letter dated 7 December 2023 from the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the President of the General Assembly,
Expressing grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population, and emphasizing that the Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law,
1. Demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire;
2. Reiterates its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians;
3. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access;
4. Decides to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.
More than 18,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the territory’s health officials. Aid into the besieged enclave has largely stopped, the U.N. said, and an estimated half of its 2.2 million people face starvation
Updated November 1st 3:35am EST
Biden calls for pause in Israel-Gaza conflict to get hostages out and takes credit for supporting the efforts for opening the Rafah Crossing. “The fact of the matter is that Hamas is a terrorist organization — a flat-out terrorist organization” – U.S. President Joseph Biden said on Wednesday
Earlier in the week the the U.S. had called for a humanitarian pause in recent days to get aid to civilians stuck in Gaza as protests around the country, in support of peace efforts on both sides of the conflict, continue to grow. The target currently seems to be the college students who are staging walk-outs and mass protests, as seen at Harvard University. The Crimson, the Harvard newspaper, released a statement regarding the events that have made international headlines since Oct 7th. The pro-Palestinian support has created anti-semitism circumstances within varying on campus marginal communities. Americans who are Muslim, Black, Indigenous, and Asian are asking, why do the Jewish residents get protections but no one else? We do not see this type of backlash when it comes to Islamophobic attacks against congressional members, during Black Lives Matter or Stop Asian Hate protests, or when Native communities battle for their land rights. It’s as if the Jewish community controls so much of the media that only their qualms are deemed, necessary and important. In essence, it creates more anti-semitism.
Pope Francis has weighed in.
“Two peoples who must live together. With that a wise solution exists: two peoples, two states, follow the Oslo Agreement: two very limited states and Jerusalem with a special status” – Pope Francis
What The Two-State Agreement Means
Two-state solution, proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two states for two peoples: Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people. In 1993 the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed on a plan to implement a two-state solution as part of the Oslo Accords, leading to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The Oslo Accords and the Arab-Israeli Peace Process
On September 13, 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Negotiator Mahmoud Abbas signed a Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, commonly referred to as the “Oslo Accord,” at the White House. Israel accepted the PLO as the representative of the Palestinians, and the PLO renounced terrorism and recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace. Both sides agreed that a Palestinian Authority (PA) would be established and assume governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five-year period. Then, permanent status talks on the issues of borders, refugees, and Jerusalem would be held. While President Bill Clinton’s administration played a limited role in bringing the Oslo Accord into being, it would invest vast amounts of time and resources in order to help Israel and the Palestinians implement the agreement. By the time Clinton left office, however, the peace process had run aground, and a new round of Israeli-Palestinian violence had begun.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1993-2000/oslo
Updated October 22nd 2:24am EST
FIrst round of Biden approved humanitarian aid enters into the broken Gaza region through the Egyptian boarder. President Biden’s visit, though short and seemingly pointless, seems to have opened up conversations on both sides of the conflict regarding the human rights crisis element of the attacks. A convoy of trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies such as food, water and medicines began entering Gaza from Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Saturday morning. The US Israeli Embassy posted details about the opening on their main site. Israel’s military spokesman said Saturday it plans to step up attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday in preparation for the next stage of the country’s war on Hamas.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe U.S. will be deploying additional military assets to the Middle East amid escalating tensions by Iran and its proxy forces across the region, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin announced late Saturday. The two hostages, whose family has made the rounds on popular cable new shows, have been safely returned.
Updated October 14th 9:30pm EST
Humanity In Peril
At this time the United Nations and several humanitarian watch groups have been conducting a media blitz to condemn the impending human rights crisis affecting millions of residents along the Gaza strip near the Israeli/Palestinian boarder. Read below.
It’s been a dreadful week. Humanity must prevail.
Statement by Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the latest in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the region Civilians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory are suffering from a week of utter anguish and devastation. I fear that the worst is yet to come.
In Israel, families are reeling from the horror of last Saturday’s attack. More than a thousand people have been killed and many more have been injured. Over 100 people are held captive.
In Gaza, families have been bombed while inching their way south along congested, damaged roads, following an evacuation order that left hundreds of thousands of people scrambling for safety but with nowhere to go.
Nearly 2,000 people have been killed and many more have been injured.
There is no power, no water and no fuel. Food supplies are running dangerously low.
Hospitals, overwhelmed with patients, are running out of medicine.
Morgues are overflowing.
Homes, schools, shelters, health centers and places of worship are under intense bombardment.
Entire residential neighbourhoods have been razed to the ground.
Aid workers have been killed.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza, already critical, is fast becoming untenable.
In the West Bank, violence is on the rise, with a surge in civilian deaths and injuries. Families are facing ever greater movement restrictions.
And in Lebanon, the risk of the conflict spilling into the country is a major concern.
The parties’ actions and rhetoric over the past few days are extremely alarming and unacceptable.
Even wars have rules, and these rules must be upheld, at all times, and by all sides.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarian workers and assets, must be protected.
Civilians must be allowed to leave for safer areas. And whether they move or stay, constant care must be taken to spare them.
Essential supplies and services and unimpeded humanitarian access must be allowed.
Anyone held captive must be treated humanely. All hostages must be released.
All countries with influence must exert it to ensure respect for the rules of war and to avoid any further escalation and spillover.
The past week has been a test for humanity, and humanity is failing.
Updated October 10th 7:15pm EST
American POTUS Joseph Biden has stated that Americans have been killed in the conflict.
U.S. Citizens who need to be in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Israel should complete this form: https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake or call:1-833-890-9595 1-606-641-0131.
The conflict in the Middle East has been ongoing since the ending of World War Two. From a spiritual stance, Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael was first but born in secrecy. Isaac was the one that was known. Isaac formed the Jewish religion and Ishmael formed the Islamic religion. If we put this conflict in familial terms, it’s a family drama like no other. As an American based NYC media brand, we do not and will not negotiate with TERRORISTS. Israel is under attack. They also have their own version of Hamas, called Zionists, who also aggressively attack the Palestinians.
It is a never ending battle of who feels entitled to the Gaza Strip. In May 2021, amid discriminatory efforts to force Palestinians out of their homes in occupied East Jerusalem, 11 days of hostilities broke out between the Israeli government and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck about 1,500 targets in Gaza with ground- and air-launched munitions, which, according to UN figures, killed at least 120 Palestinian civilians. Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, launched more than 4,000 rockets and mortars towards Israel, resulting in the deaths of 12 civilians in Israel and at least 7 Palestinians in Gaza. (Source https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine)
Dr. Cornell West, took a bipartisan stand against both sides on Saturday using the hashtag, #TruthJusticeLove. Whereas Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all picked a side. A note to former President Obama, who said in his statement that we must continue to find peace pathways for both sides. Former President Trump claimed that there were good people on both sides back at the Unite The Right protest that resulted in a dead woman back in 2017, Charlottesville, Virginia. In this conflict, he blamed both Joe and Barack for their shitty leadership.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the President and Vice President of the United States of America until further notice.
The media elites are ranking in the views as well. Tucker Carlson who now hosts his content on Elon Musk’s X platform, blasts Nikki Haley, Lindsey Graham and Dan Crenshaw for being warmongers with their responses to the Israel-Hamas war. Carlson specifically blasted Graham for “not caring” about lost lives because he is nearly 70 years old with no kids. “What exactly would happen to the United States if we declared war on Iran and started blowing up their infrastructure?” “Lindsey Graham has no clue what would happen. He hasn’t thought it through. He’s almost 70 years old and he has no children. He doesn’t care.” “But neither amazingly do most of his colleagues in Washington, they’re as reckless as he is.” (Source Collinn Ruggs for https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/). There have also been polls circulating on the same platform, asking users, which side they are on and that they should LIKE for Israel and RETWEET for Palestine.
We continue to pray for collective peace. We are opening up some writing space for anyone on the frontlines. Please submit, in any language, your 500 word reflection to the conflict for submission. Campaignsbytremg@gmail.com
All of the participants will be notified if their story will be published. We all play a part in keeping the record.
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