Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
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Israel closing the Al Jazeera office in Ramallah, West Bank is absolutely ludicrous and demonstrates the overreach and complete occupation of Palestinian territories. They have no right to force journalists out of their offices and suspend operations in a town clearly internationally recognized as Palestinian land. Their defacement of the building’s banners of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is unacceptable. This is not Israel’s land, and even if it were, how would defacing the building by removing banners memorializing someone’s death be acceptable in any context?
Experts in Israel’s policies and strategies towards Palestinians are concerned this is a signal of Israel’s intent to escalate the violence towards Palestinians in the West Bank. I, too, am deeply concerned of what this most recent attack on journalism will bring. We’ve seen over and over again how these types of actions precede horrific Israeli attacks.
I demand you do everything in your power to:
– Hold Israel accountable to a permanent, immediate ceasefire and for their repeat violations of international law
– Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid
– Support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace
– Secure the immediate release and safety of all hostages, including Palestinians held by Israel in “military prisons”, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7
– Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce U.S. laws like Leahy Law and the Arms Export Control Act
– Resume full funding of UNRWA and allocate more funds to aid humanitarian efforts to rebuild Gaza, and provide Palestinians with the resources to survive and thrive
– Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict
– Void all anti-BDS laws and other laws that infringe on my right to freedom of speech to criticize any political ideology or country, and to use my money in ways that align with my values
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
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In the past 24 hours, Israel has murdered 5 journalists in Gaza. Today 7/6, marks another increase in the record breaking number of journalists murdered in any other conflict zone in the world since the CPJ began keeping track. In the first 10 weeks alone of Israel’s genocide more journalists (77) were murdered than in any single country over an entire year period. In comparison, 68 total journalists were killed in 2022 across the entire world. News reporting from conflict zones has always been dangerous, but the risks brave journalists take in Gaza is unlike anything seen before. Israel’s intentional targeting of journalists for death, injury, detainment, censorship, or even cyber attacks is unparalleled. As of 7/6, the CPJ has documented 51 arrests of journalists – 36 of which are still in Israeli military prisons in dire conditions.
The reign of terror against journalists hasn’t been confined to the besieged Gaza strip – journalists throughout occupied Palestine face Israel’s systematic abuse. Journalists in the West Bank are “facing unprecedented threats, assaults, and intimidation to obstruct their vital work covering this conflict,” says CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.
Cyberattacks against news outlets reporting in Gaza since 10/7 have escalated to never before seen levels, all the way from the agency-level like the 11/11 attack on the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate’s website, to individual journalists like Plestia Alaqad, whose Instagram has been a frequent target for hackers.
Censorship of news reporting in Gaza has taken a myriad of forms from “unofficial” means previously described, to official laws passed by Israel to block news outlets like Al Jazeera and any other outlet deemed to pose “a threat”. This administration has followed suit in censorship, from direct threats to news agencies like Reuters, CNN, and the New York Times late December 2023, to the House of Representatives voting to bar the State Department from citing official death tolls published by Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
Journalists are not a target. The freedom of the press is supposed to be one of the unshakeable pillars of our democracy. Unfortunately, none of this comes as a surprise anymore. After the Supreme Court’s recent disturbing ruling making the president above our laws, this administration and every following one has been given carte blanche for all crimes.
I demand that you:
– Hold Israel accountable for a permanent, immediate ceasefire, their violations of the Genocide Convention, and gross human rights violations by any means necessary
– Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace
– Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
If you want to participate in my Telegram resistbot notification & human rights activism channel, you can join at: https://t.me/heywatermelon
I am absolutely disgusted by the preemptive letter several Republican Senators sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) ahead of the recent announcement of arrest warrants being pursued for Netanyahu and Gallant. Biden’s claim the warrants are “outrageous” and that Israel isn’t committing a genocide IS the outrageous part. The letter from the Senators reads disgustingly similar to the threatening letter members of the House of Representatives sent to Reuters for their reporting on the horrors Israel is inflicting on Gaza. It reminds me of the other threatening letter multiple state attorney generals sent to the New York Times, the Associated Press, CNN, and Reuters back in December for the same reason.
The consensus on Israel’s actions constituting a genocide are clear. Even multiple U.S. federal lawyers and policymakers have recently advised this administration that continuing to provide Israel financial and military support violates domestic and international law. These clear attempts to coerce journalists and the International Criminal Court to overlook Israel’s genocide are disgusting. I’d like to borrow the same language this government has used – your actions are “unethical, inhumane, and indefensible”. “Now [you] are on notice. Follow the law”. “You have been warned”.
Today, 5/21, over the last 24 hours Israel has massacred over 85 people, and injured over 200 in Gaza. At the same time, Israel was, again, assaulting the town of Jenin in the West Bank and murdered at least 7, which included a teacher and a doctor. Israel’s genocide has never been confined to just Gaza. The methods employed to terrorize the rest of occupied-Palestine may vary but the goal is the same. Doctors are not a target. Teachers are not a target. Civilians are not a target.
I demand that you:
– Hold Israel accountable for a permanent, immediate ceasefire, their violations of the Genocide Convention, and gross human rights violations by any means necessary
– Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace
– Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7
– Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce Leahy Law
– Reallocate all funds given to Israel and commit additional resources for ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians starting with immediately resuming funding of UNRWA
– Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict
– Pass legislation that voids all anti-BDS laws at the federal level
– Vote no on H.R. 7521 and any similar legislation proposed
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
If you want to participate in my Telegram resistbot notification & human rights activism channel, you can join at: https://t.me/heywatermelon
Yesterday, 3/18, Israeli forces began another brutal siege on the Al-Shifa Hospital. Approximately 30,000 people being starved to death by Israel have taken refuge in what remained of the hospital after the first time Israeli forces reigned terror upon it. Brave doctors and medical staff returned to do whatever they can without any supplies to try and save lives. Al Jazeera’s team of journalists at Al-Shifa were among those mass abducted. One of the journalists, Ismail al-Ghoul, was released after 12 hours after being viciously beaten, blindfolded, tied up, and left on the floor among other people Israeli forces had taken. The staff, patients, and refugees at the hospital are on their second day without any food or water. They will all die if nothing is done to protect them.
This is just one more war crime in the long list of crimes Israeli has committed just since 10/7. The entire world has a moral obligation to stand up and end this genocide. And, our country specifically has the largest obligation as we are the largest financer of the state of Israel in both military and economic aid. Our country is so entangled and complicit in Israel’s genocide we are just as guilty if not more so. It’s unconscionable to me to know my tax dollars are being used for a foreign government’s crimes instead of being used to help my country.
I demand that you:
– Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire
– Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace
– Hold Israel accountable for their violations of the Genocide Convention and all other international laws by any means necessary
– Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7
– Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce Leahy Law
– Reallocate all funds given to Israel and commit additional resources for ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians starting with immediately resuming funding of UNRWA
– Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict
– Pass legislation that voids all anti-BDS laws at the federal level
– Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
If you want to participate in my Telegram resistbot notification & human rights activism channel, you can join at: https://t.me/heywatermelon
I woke up this morning to the news that 2 more journalists have been murdered. Journalists Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya were killed by a targeted Israeli airstrike while they were traveling in a area Israel said was “safe”. While still alive, the 3rd passenger, Hazem Rajab, has sustained serious injuries. Israel has given the world no reason to believe this was not intentional and part of their continuous assault on the press. While all death is tragic, I wept when I heard the news about Hamza. He was the eldest son of journalist Wael Dahdouh, who lost his wife, other children, and family members in targeted airstrikes in late October and early November.
In an interview earlier today, Wael said, “Hamza was everything to me, the eldest boy, he was the soul of my soul… these are the tears of parting and loss, the tears of humanity.” That phrasing – soul of my soul – brought to mind the tragic murder of 3-year-old Reem from late November. Her grandfather, Khaled Nabhan, searched through the rubble after his home was leveled by an Israeli airstrike in the middle of the night to find her small body and her 5-year-old brother Tariq among the dead. Khaled and the rest of his family were not given warning before the airstrike – this was when Israel released the “evacuation orders map” riddled with confusing instructions, and purposeful ineptitude. With Israel’s expanding aggression, there is no where safe anywhere in occupied Palestine or even abroad in other countries like Lebanon.
While Khaled reverently prepared Reem’s body for burial, he said she is the soul of my soul, “Reem, she is my darling. My heart is broken. I sleep and wake up and my eyes are full of tears.” I see that same pain echoed in Wael and all others in Gaza who face unimaginable tragedy, suffering, and loss every moment this genocide is allowed to continue.
The phrase “soul of my soul” describes a love far greater than you could ever have for yourself. It expresses a depth of love that acknowledges the other person is “the essence of our essence. Making us, as the individual, obsolete.” There’s no direct English equivalent, but the most similar word we have is soulmate. It’s typically reserved for family and those you hold dearest to you.
During the process of educating myself on ongoing genocide of Palestinians and its recent acceleration, I have had the honor of making friends in occupied Palestine. They are the kindest, most honorable people I have ever known. The cost of my attention to and understanding of their plight has been and always will be too high. Palestine has become the soul of my soul, and my soul is dying.
Call for a ceasefire right now. The continuation of this genocide is unconscionable and will forever be a black stain on the history of humanity. How deep and far that stain extends is up to you. I beg you to make the right decision for once.
November 25th, 2023 Tweet from Middle East Matters (@MEMOrganization) resharing interview of Khaled talking about Reem
*Why are you citing sources from social media?
These particular posts are included because they share more about Khaled and Reem and include uncensored footage of Reem’s body that other news outlets I’ve looked at do not share. It’s horrific to witness, but his tenderness, care, and clear love for Reem is beautiful. For those that can handle witnessing, I encourage you to do so.
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
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How many times must history repeat itself before we stop it? In the words of Israeli-American doctor of psychology & neuroscience Yoav Litvin, “Beyond justifying violent land theft, the conflation of Zionism and Judaism serves to delegitimise Indigenous resistance by equating any criticism of Zionism or Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians as an attack on Jews.” I quote his words because I am aware saying them myself serves to mark me and anyone else who signs this letter as an espouser of hate speech.
Beyond the multiple resolutions Congress has proposed & passed to serve as precedent for this erroneous conflation, it’s clear with every action this administration has taken that my government will do anything possible to stifle my freedom of speech and the freedom of the press as it relates to Israel.
Americans are crying out for a ceasefire. The world is crying out for a ceasefire. We know it’s possible for our country to stop this. Reagan accomplished it in one phone call in 1982. Instead, the U.N. Security Council has been crippled by the U.S. veto vote and our president refuses to stand on the right side of history.
I demand that you:
– Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank, and all areas the Israeli military is murdering or otherwise violating the human rights of Palestinians
– Call for the immediate end of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom, peace, and their human rights
– Call for the immediate release of Palestinian “prisoners” (hostages) held captive in Israeli military prisons
– Permanently end all monetary and military aid given to Israel by correcting our budget and enforcing Leahy Law
– Reallocate all funds given to Israel to ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians to help them rebuild, care for the sick & injured, bury the dead with dignity, and ensure all of their basic needs are taken care of
– Repeal all federal anti-BDS laws and pass legislation that voids all state-level anti-BDS laws
– Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet
– Stop the militarization of our police by ending all cross-training done with the Israeli military, ceasing the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and all other ways this is accomplished
– Pass legislation that prohibits any governmental action that would target any ethnic, religious, or other minority group (including Palestinians), either in the U.S. or abroad, by restricting humanitarian or financial aid, infringing on their human rights, or other actions that would otherwise bring harm or cause undue burdens on said groups
*This is not meant to be an exhaustive list. In future petitions referring to legislation both proposed and passed, I will continue to update with more important resolutions and/or bills I find.
I’m concerned the actions of our government will lead to the total, final collapse of our democracy. The writing has been on the walls for some time. The recent acceleration of the genocide of Palestinians and the government’s support has proven this is not a red/blue issue. Fascist ideologs are in both major parties.
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
If you want to participate in my Telegram resistbot notification & human rights activism channel, you can join at: https://t.me/heywatermelon
On 12/15 journalist Samer Abudaqa was murdered in a drone attack that also wounded Wael Dahdouh after they reported on an Israeli airstrike on a shelter for displaced people in Khan Younis. Abudaqa wasn’t killed instantly – he slowly bled out. Rescue teams were unable to reach him in a timely manner because they needed Israel’s approval, which was delayed for over 5 hours.
This isn’t the first time Dahdouh has been targeted. On 10/25, Dahdouh’s wife, children, and several of his extended family were murdered by an Israeli airstrike. On the same day, Israel’s Channel 13 journalist Zvi Yehezkeli said that Dahdouh’s family was purposefully targeted. When National Security Council spokesman Kirby claimed in a press conference that there was “no indication whatsoever that Israel is going after journalists”, he was misleading us.
On 10/30 two Lebanese journalists were murdered in southern Lebanon while stationed near their clearly marked press vehicle. Independent investigations by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Agence France-Presse (AFP), Reuters, and Reporters Without Borders have concurred that an Israeli tank round killed them, and have called for an international investigation of this war crime.
Unfortunately, these are not isolated incidents. In 2019 a U.N. independent commission found reasonable grounds for these accusations from even older murders of the press by Israel. In 2023, Israel finally apologized for the murder of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and claimed she was “accidentally” shot in the head by Israeli forces in 2022.
Between 10/7 – 12/14, approximately 64 – 83 journalists and media workers have been murdered by the best estimates from the International Federation of Journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and EuroMed Human Rights Monitor. Since 1992 when CPJ began gathering casualty data for journalists, these have been the deadliest months on record.
Israel has spread misinformation that has led to threats on several news outlets. On 11/8 Israel’s official X account posted a known, baseless claim from HonestReporting that “AP, CNN, NY Times and Reuters had journalists embedded with Hamas terrorists.” According to HonestReporting themselves, they are not a news organization. They’ve since retracted these claims.
On 11/21 members of Congress sent a letter to Reuters accusing the organization of complicity in the 10/7 attack, parroting the exact verbiage and citing the same source as Israel’s official X post. On 12/4, multiple U.S. state Attorney Generals sent a threatening letter to the AP, CNN, NY Times and Reuters also mimicking this same lie. That letter ended with “Now your organizations are on notice. Follow the law”.
The targeting and threatening of journalists has been been a tool to silence and suppress dissent by authoritarian regimes. What happened to freedom of the press?
Now you are on notice. Follow international law. Prosecute Israel’s war crimes.
October 25th, 2023 tweet by Investigative Journalist Sulaiman Ahmed sharing video clip from Israel’s’ Channel 13 of Israeli journalist Zvi Yehezkeli stating Wael Dahdouh’s family was intentionally murdered
Resistbot is part of a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that allows Americans to send letters to government officials using SMS, Telegram, Messenger, and other popular chat apps. Anyone can use it, and you can write & send your own letters without making petitions. You can learn more on their official website: https://resist.bot/
To use resistbot, text via SMS (50409), or text by adding resistbot on Telegram/Messenger: – FOLLOW WATERMELON to get notified for all new letters to sign – GO WATERMELON to get a list of active letters to sign – SIGN CODE* to sign an open petition. *substitute code for a petititon code
If you want to participate in my Telegram resistbot notification & human rights activism channel, you can join at: https://t.me/heywatermelon
It’s not enough that Israel has been murdering journalists in Gaza, the West Bank, and other parts of occupied Palestine, they have extended the aggression inward, too. On November 23rd, the Israeli news outlet Haaretz was threatened by their own government due to their news coverage of the atrocities happening in Gaza.
When I read the letter several state Attorney Generals sent to New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, and CNN on December 4th, I felt chills, truly. I guess I can’t be too shocked when members of Congress sent a similarly threatening letter to Reuters on November 21st.
Assaults on the freedom of press cannot be tolerated. You have been consistently attacking my freedom of speech, and now you want to take away freedom of the press, too. I never thought I’d live in a time where news outlets like the New York Times would be threatened by state governments or Reuters being attacked by the federal government, but here we are. What are you going to do to stop this?
I demand that you:
– Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank, and all areas the Israeli military is murdering or otherwise violating the human rights of Palestinians
– Call for the immediate end of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom, peace, and their human rights
– Call for the immediate release of Palestinian “prisoners” (hostages) held captive in Israeli military prisons- Permanently end all monetary and military aid given to Israel by correcting our budget and enforcing Leahy Law
– Reallocate all funds given to Israel to ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians to help them rebuild, care for the sick & injured, bury the dead with dignity, and ensure all of their basic needs are taken care of
– Repeal all federal anti-BDS laws and pass legislation that voids all state-level anti-BDS laws
– Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet
– Stop the militarization of our police by ending all cross-training done with the Israeli military, ceasing the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and all other ways this is accomplished
– Pass legislation that prohibits any governmental action that would target any ethnic, religious, or other minority group (including Palestinians), either in the U.S. or abroad, by restricting humanitarian or financial aid, infringing on their human rights, or other actions that would otherwise bring harm or cause undue burdens on said groups
