https://resist.bot/petitions/PXJPFH

<- learn more

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

You can check out all of my resistbot petitons at: https://resist.bot/go/WATERMELON

1/7 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

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.

SOURCES

Al Jazeera “Hamza, son of Al Jazeera’s Wael Dahdouh, killed in Israeli attack in Gaza“

Radiance News “Khalid and Reem, ‘the Soul of My Soul’“

CNN “‘I kissed her but she wouldn’t wake up.’ Grandfather grieves for 3-year-old granddaughter killed as she slept in Gaza“

Middle East Monitor “‘My heart, my two eyes’: Palestine man keeps grand-daughter’s earring to mourn loss in Israel strike“

The Observer “How can we save the next ‘Soul of my soul’?“

Haaretz “The IDF’s Confusing, Ironic Evacuation Map for Palestinians in Gaza“

New York Times “Israel’s Evacuation Decrees Leave Gazans Confused“

NaTakallam “14 Terms of Endearment in Arabic“

December 22nd, 2023 TikTok posted by @palfolklore “December 23: Soul of My Soul Day“

!! CONTENT WARNING !!

These social media* sources may contain graphic content, viewer discretion is advised.

November 28th, 2023 Instagram Reel reshared by Nafia Khan (@docnafiakaan) “The story of Khaled & Reem “The soul of my soul” 💔“

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.

For more on Israel’s targeted assassination of journalists, and Israel & U.S. threats to journalists abroad see prior petitions “MURDERING JOURNALISTS IS A WAR CRIME – CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW“, “PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS & FREE PALESTINE, “CEASEFIRE NOW – RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL“, and “IT LOOKS BAD BECAUSE IT IS- PLEASE SAVE PALESTINE“

For more on Israel’s targeted assassination of and threats to journalists, academics, and other prominent Palestinians see prior petitions “NEW YEARS RESOLUTION – STOP THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS“, and ““If I Must Die” By Refaat Alareer“

For more on Israel’s intentionality and capacity to minimize collateral damage (with the choice not to) see prior petitions “ISRAEL HAS ADMITTED TO MAXIMIZING THE LOSS OF LIFE – WHERE IS YOUR HUMANITY?“, “ISRAEL SAYS THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD – CEASEFIRE NOW“, and “PALESTINE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA – END THE GENOCIDE“

For more on Israel’s expanding attacks throughout occupied Palestine, Lebanon and other countries see prior petitions “ISRAEL SAYS THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD – CEASEFIRE NOW“, “ARE YOU TRYING TO START WW3? CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE RIGHT NOW“, “ISRAEL PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS – CEASEFIRE NOW“, “BETHLEHEM ATTACKED ON CHRISTMAS – CEASEFIRE NOW“, “CHRISTMAS DAY MASSACRES – CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW“, “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A CEASEFIRE“, “ISRAELI EXTREMISM ON THE RISE- CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW“, “WHITE PHOSPHOROUS CAUSES BIRTH DEFECTS – CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW“, “THE WRITING IS ON THE WALLS – THIS IS A GENOCIDE“, and “FREE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN FROM ISRAELI MILITARY PRISON NOW“