• The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including using starvation as a weapon.

• The International Court of Justice is hearing South Africa’ s case charging Israel with violating the Genocide Convention. Provisional measures have already been ordered.

• Multiple UN bodies, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have found clear evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity: indiscriminate strikes, collective punishment, forced displacement, starvation of civilians, destruction of infrastructure, torture, and use of white phosphorus in civilian areas.

What has happened in Gaza and across Palestine since October 7, 2023, is horrific.

Meanwhile back in the States:

• 38 states, including California, have enacted laws prohibiting support for Palestinians or criticism of Israel. Companies and universities risk losing funding and contracts, in clear violation of the First Amendment.

• H. R. 6940— 117th Congress( 2021-2022)

• H. R. 867— 119th Congress( 2025-2026)

• Jewish Virtual Library

• U. S. spending on Israel’ s military operations since October 7 totals $ 17.9 – 22.76 billion( Brown University Costs of War Project), not including the annual $ 3.8 billion pledged under the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty( Congress report).

• Universities across the nation suppressed campus protests and now face lawsuits for violating students’ First Amendment rights.

• Jewish Americans and other critics of Israel’ s prolonged assault on Gaza— including journalists and commentators such as Gabor Maté, Aaron Maté, Max Blumenthal, Norman Finkelstein, Jimmy Dore, Katie Halper, and many more— face smear campaigns, threats, and attempts at cancellation. Online personalities like children ' s educator and advocate Ms. Rachel have faced character assasinations by groups like " Stop AntiSemitism " who requested the US Attorney General to investigate her( USAToday). Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and others have also been targeted. Hundreds of artists and public figures worldwide speaking out for either Israel or Palestine have faced backlash.

The National Flower of Palestine: Faqqua Iris. https:// thisweekinpalestine. com / faqqua-iris /

The invasion of Israeli military outposts and settlements by Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023, was horrific. What has unfolded in Gaza since then has also been horrific.

Why do these grim facts matter to small communities like ours? Because we live alongside both Jewish and Palestinian neighbors. We owe it to them— and to ourselves— to know the documented facts, not just the headlines and banter from our news networks and politicians of choice. Only then can we lead with empathy instead of simply parroting the narratives that support our confirmation bias.

Palistinian ceramics- Atfaluna Crafts in Gaza empowers hearing-impaired artisans, employing over 50 people in transformative ceramic workshops. https:// www. fromfrompalestine. com / collections / palestinian-ceramic 48

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