NGO: World’s worst tragic figures recorded in Gaza — Middle East Monitor (9/5/19)

The blockaded Gaza Strip has marked the highest tragic humanitarian figures in the world, a humanitarian aid NGO said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reported. The Istanbul-based Gaza Aid Association held a conference dedicated to the Gaza Strip, and released its annual report on the humanitarian situation in the enclave. The situation in the strip is “the worst over the years of siege,” said Abdul Majed al-Aloul, general manager of the association. It recorded tragic humanitarian figures that were “the highest in the world in the fields of unemployment with 52%, poverty 53% and water pollution 95% and the daily power outage rate that reached 75%,” he said. 

India once called Zionism racist. Today it moves to replicate it — Middle East Eye (9/5/19)

A new report says Israel arrested 69 Palestinian children last month, how many more Dems will sign onto a bill that promotes their human rights? — Mondoweiss (9/5/19)

According to statistics from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Centre for Studies, Israeli forces arrested 450 Palestinians in August including 69 children. The numbers were posted on the Facebook page of Riad Al-Ashqar, a spokesperson for the group. In addition to the 69 children, 13 women and 2 photojournalists, and a disabled man were also arrested last month. The United States Congress is currently on recess, but the House and Senate gavel back in next week. There’s a number of proposed bills connected to Israel/Palestine that lawmakers are hoping to move forward and one of them is H.R. 2407–the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act. The legislation, which was introduced by Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum in April, would amend the Foreign Assistance Act to block funding for the military detention of children in other countries, including Israel.

Trump Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt to resign — Al Jazeera (9/5/19)

Palestinian with Harvard scholarship finally allowed into US — Electronic Intifada (9/3/19)

Kentucky Governor signs bill that would crack down on BDS movement — Mondoweiss (9/2/19)

On August 27 Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin held a ceremony to officially sign Senate Bill 143. The law allows the state to refuse business from companies that boycott Kentucky trade partners, including Israel. The bill’s supporters identify it as a way for the state to crack down on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The ceremony merely codified an executive order that was signed by Bevin last November. “The State of Israel is an important friend and trading partner to the Commonwealth,” he said at the time. “We will not allow state resources to benefit entities that intentionally engage in discriminatory practices to harm the sovereignty and economic prosperity of any ally nation. Today’s executive order makes it clear that Kentucky condemns the BDS movement and that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friend, Israel.”