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12/31 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

Earlier today Ahmad Ismael was brutally murdered by the IDF when they opened fire on his home and the rest of his neighborhood in Gaza. He was outside trying to fill up water containers for his loved ones when he was shot to death. His close friend Motaz Azaiza describes Ahmad as “the most beautiful soul, the most compassionate person you will ever know.” I wept when I saw the news.

Motaz is one of the brave young Palestinian journalists documenting their own barbaric genocide to show the world the truth of the horrors they face. He has already faced unfathomable personal losses and like Palestinian academic Refaat Alareer, his life has been repeatedly threatened through “anonymous” phone calls from those identifying themselves as IDF officers. While Motaz is still alive, I worry every day will be his last. If it’s not his last, then it’s another Palestinian murdered via starvation, bombardments, point-blank executions, or other ways Israel has conducted their genocidal ethnic cleansing campaign.

We’re entering a this new year with approximately 21,600 – 30,000 Palestinians murdered since 10/7 due to Israel’s barbaric genocide and ethnic cleansing campaign. In addition to the U.S. court case against my government for their aiding and abetting of the genocide of Palestinians, South Africa recently filed proceedings against Israel for their crimes, as well. Who in modern day, more than South Africa, would be able to tell the world that the crimes of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide are occurring?

Even in South Africa’s initial filing, having condemned the actions of Hamas, Israel’s response was to accuse South Africa of being Hamas, too, and being antisemitic. Every single criticism of Israel is met with the same, tired rhetoric. You have a lot to learn from the integrity of South Africa and I encourage you do it quickly. Every day you waste more Palestinians face murder, torture, and other forms of ethno-religious extremism by Israel both in Gaza and the rest of occupied-Palestine.

“For this reason it is important to place the acts of genocide in the broader context of Israel’s conduct towards Palestinians during its 75-year-long apartheid, its 56-yearlong belligerent occupation of Palestinian territory and its 16-year-long blockade of Gaza, including the serious and ongoing violations of international law…other war crimes and crimes against humanity…South Africa’s case is that those acts and omissions are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent…to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.”

SOURCES

Reuters “South Africa files genocide case against Israel at World Court“

New York Times “South Africa accuses Israel of genocide in a U.N. court.“

International Court of Justice “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem“

International Court of Justice “Proceedings instituted by South Africa against the State of Israel on 29 December 2023“

International Court of Justice “South Africa against the State of Israel – Press release 2023/77 – English“

International Court of Justice “South Africa – Application instituting proceedings and request for the indication of provisional measures“

The Guardian “South Africa launches case at UN court accusing Israel of genocide“

For more on the ongoing U.S. court case against Biden, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense for aiding and abetting a genocide, and breaking U.S. laws to do so, see prior petition “DEFENSE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL – PALESTINE V. BIDEN“

For more on the execution of Refaat Alareer, see prior petition ““If I Must Die” By Refaat Alareer“

!! CONTENT WARNING !!

The 12/31 post announcing Ahmad Ismael’s murder has graphic content showing Ahmad’s body after the IDF murdered him in the last photo shared. I have not recently verified if the No Caller ID Instagram story highlights have been updated and if there is any graphic content, but the threats and psychological torture I have witnessed in prior viewings has been difficult to witness. Viewer discretion is advised.

Motaz Azaiza’s Instagram post 12/31/23 (motaz_azaiza) announcing the brutal murder of his friend Ahmad Ismael (ahmad.j.ismael)

Motaz Azaiza’s Instagram Story Highlights No Caller ID (motaz_azaiza)

Estimated deaths as of 12/30 – 12/31 from multiple sources*

Al Jazeera quotes 21,672 dead as of 12/31/23. Al Jazeera always includes the most up-to-date official death tolls on their Breaking/live updates page. Because the daily live pages are refreshed so frequently for each new day, I can’t link you to a specific date. You can always check the Breaking/live section on their site for the most recent official numbers.

EuroMed Monitor quotes an estimated 30,034 dead shown on an infographic posted on their Instagram (link to post) as of 12/30/23. Their website has past infographics, but does not currently have this newest one included as of writing this blog post. This is not unusual- I believe they first post on social media and then add to the infographic section of their site later. Prior infographics posted on Instagram and then shown on their site have the exact same figures & data.

*Why are multiple sources used for the death count?

Associated Press “Gaza health officials say they lost the ability to count dead as Israeli offensive intensifies“

The situation in Gaza has only gotten worse since the AP published this article on 11/21. The official numbers we are seeing from Gaza’s Ministry of Health are undercounted, and have been since at least 11/21.

EuroMed Monitor is a NGO established in 2011 that advocates for the human rights of all persons across Europe and the MENA region. They have a regional office in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. I believe their estimates are credible which is why I quote them, and will continue to, when referring to the estimated death toll.

My personal opinion is that the true number is even higher than estimated- people are dying from starvation, thirst, infections, and illnesses. Even if the genocide ended this moment, these types of deaths will unfortunately continue for some time. I believe their deaths should be counted. They may not have been shot/bombed/etc. by the Israeli military, but their deaths are directly attributable to the total siege, occupation, and intentional** destruction of civilian, water, waste management, and medical infrastructure by Israel.

**Why are you accusing Israel of intentionally destroying important infrastructure and targeting civilians?

It’s not an accusation. They’ve admitted to it.

The Guardian “‘The Gospel’: how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza“

972 Magazine “‘A mass assassination factory’: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza“