Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York delivered a fiery speech at a rally, accusing his opponent and AIPAC of supporting genocide in Gaza and using U.S. tax dollars to kill innocent civilians. Bowman, a vocal critic of the Israeli government, faced criticism for his stance and was accused of plagiarism from his 2019 dissertation. The rally also featured an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders, who called for unity against the ‘oligarchy’ despite potential differences in opinion.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), along with other left-wing organizations, has expressed strong condemnation against Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, calling it a ‘genocide’ and demanding an immediate ceasefire. The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been accused of supporting Israel despite its apparent deviation from the nation’s previous stance on the Palestinian cause.
The Sri Lankan government has strongly condemned Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of “genocide” during the island nation’s conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the claim as “outrageous” and politically motivated, emphasizing that no competent authority has objectively determined genocide occurred in Sri Lanka. The government also criticized Canada’s disproportionate focus on Sri Lanka and double standards in human rights advocacy, noting that it gives space to Khalistani separatist elements while claiming to champion global human rights.
The United States does not consider the situation in Gaza to be genocide, but it expects Israel to take greater precautions to safeguard Palestinian civilians. According to President Joe Biden’s top national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, the responsibility for peace rests with Hamas, despite the ongoing ceasefire talks and Israel’s continued attacks on Rafah. Sullivan emphasized that the US employs the internationally recognized definition of genocide, focusing on intent, in making this assessment. While President Biden aims to defeat Hamas, he recognizes the suffering endured by Palestinian civilians.
A group of anti-Israel protesters from Queers for Palestine were arrested on Saturday after blocking the exit of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The protesters, who were wearing keffiyeh and holding banners, chanted “Free Palestine” and accused Disney of “supporting genocide.” Some drivers were forced to use the highway’s shoulder to go around the protesters, and one angry motorist confronted them, saying “You are causing people to actually hate you.” The protester verbally attacked him, calling him a “genocide sympathizer.” The protesters claimed that Disney supports Israel without acknowledging the loss of Palestinian lives in the ongoing genocide.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer faced a confrontation by anti-Israel protesters while celebrating her daughter’s college graduation at a local restaurant. The protesters accused the United States of participating in genocide by supporting Israel and questioned Whitmer’s actions regarding the Palestinian children. Despite being interrupted, Whitmer responded calmly and condemned the situation in Gaza as heartbreaking. The incident has sparked controversy, with some criticizing Whitmer for not speaking out sooner against anti-Israel rhetoric.
A video has been shared on social media claiming to show an International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge ordering Germany to withdraw its support for Israel in a genocide case brought by Nicaragua. However, this video has been taken out of context. The person in the video is not a judge but a registrar who read out Nicaragua’s request for provisional measures, which the court has not yet ruled on.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has alleged that Beijing continues to commit genocide against Uyghur Muslim minorities ahead of his planned trip to China. The accusation is based on the State Department’s annual human rights report, which details abuses in Xinjiang, including arbitrary detention, forced labor, and re-education camps. China has consistently denied these allegations, but Blinken has endorsed a previous determination of genocide and plans to raise human rights concerns during his visit.
