"Not only is Israel still killing and starving Palestinians, Israeli officials are openly declaring their intention to occupy Gaza. But none of that is part of the dominant media narrative about the “ceasefire” at the moment." Assal Rad

Assal Rad

@AssalRad

"Not only is Israel still killing and starving Palestinians, Israeli officials are openly declaring their intention to occupy Gaza. But none of that is part of the dominant media narrative about the “ceasefire” at the moment."

 

Assal Rad

@AssalRad

 

Assal Rad

@AssalRad

"If you’re not writing the truth about crimes against humanity, you’re culpable in them."

 AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK  or TWEET TO READ GOOD QUOTES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]   

 

"“Evictions” makes it sound like they didn’t pay their rent. An indigenous population is being forced out of their homes, off their land, brutalized by security forces & threatened with violence. Call it what it is. #Palestine " Assal Rad  https://x.com/AssalRad

“Diversity can be a source of common strength, a wellspring from which we deepen our awareness of humanity.” Nelson Mandela's words resonate as strongly today as ever.

United Nations Geneva  @UNGeneva 

On this day in 1994,  @NelsonMandela delivered a lecture at the World Conference on Religion and Peace. His words resonate as strongly today as ever.

3 Maps: Gaza Strip Blockade before Oct. 7, 2023 + Permanently Staffed Israeli Checkpoints and Crossings in the West Bank by 2010 + In 2002, Israel started constructing a land grabbing Apartheid wall, slicing through Palestinian communities, agricultural fields, and farmland

Gaza Strip Blockade before Oct. 7, 2023- Four days after Hamas' assault on Israel, the army has tightened its 2007 blockade into a 'complete siege' of the Gaza enclave.

 

The West Bank PALESTINE has been illegally occupied [& strangled] by Israel since 1967

Permanently Staffed Israeli Checkpoints and Crossings in the West Bank

Permanently Staffed Israeli Checkpoints and Crossings in the West Bank  OCHA map (As of May 2010) https://www.un.org/unispal/permanently-staffed-israeli-checkpoints-and-crossings-in-the-west-bank-ocha-map-as-of-may-2010/

About 85 percent of the Israeli built APARTHEID WALL falls within the West Bank rather than running along the internationally recognized 1967 boundary, known as the Green Line. [Al Jazeera]

Palestinian farmers harvest their olives in the southern West Bank village of the monastery of Samet, near the Israeli separation wall in Hebron.  

"Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges" Rosa Parks

“Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges. Life is to be lived to its fullest so that death is just another chapter. Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”
— Life magazine, 1988

Affectionately known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," Parks is an American icon — and for good reason.

On December 1, 1955, the 42-year-old was headed home from her job as a seamstress at Montgomery Fair department store in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama when she made history. After she boarded the bus and took a seat, she and the three others in her row were told by the driver to stand up and move to the back, making more seats for white passengers as the bus filled.

Famously, Parks refused to vacate the seat. Her courageous act of defiance resulted in her being arrested and later found guilty of disorderly conduct. In addition to the arrest, she lost her job as a seamstress and her husband also lost his job after being forbidden from talking about the legal case. Although Parks' brave actions landed her behind bars, her impact sparked change and catapulted her into history books. Taking a stand against the segregation laws, Parks inspired the African American community to boycott buses for 381 days, which became known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott — and was led by newcomer Martin Luther King, Jr.

For the remainder of her life, she continued to fight against racial prejudice and discrimination. Although Parks passed away in 2005, her legacy lives on. Just like her unprecedented actions and undeniable courage influenced society, let these inspirational Rosa Parks quotes serve as a reminder to always fight for what’s right... READ MORE https://www.womansday.com/life/a42528046/rosa-parks-quotes/

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

Dear America- Slavery, Segregation and Forced Displacement are wrong. Wrong then and wrong now.

Ahmed, a young Gazan, wrote a letter to UNRWA sharing his thoughts with us just a few days into the ceasefire.

Dear America - letter I just sent to my elected leaders,

WWII had cheerful music and fun fashion, but hidden behind all that positive public energy was a very evil side called SEGREGATION where Blacks were horrifically discriminated against.

When WWII ended America remained a very racist nation. All the Western World was:  Hitler took segregation too far with his death camps, but we did not go to war against Hitler to stop segregation. Our military was segregated at the time.

The beginning to end segregation was shaped by the post WWII creation of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the wake of the Nazi Holocaust.  Jewish people were assured their inalienable Right to Return to original homes and lands in Europe... BUT Israel has never ever respected this same inalienable Right to Return to the native non-Jewish men, women and children of historic Palestine.

Slavery, Segregation and Forced Displacement are wrong.  Wrong then and wrong now.  One of the cruelest chapters in American History was called "The Trail of Tears" when during the 1830- 1850s the indigenous native Americans were forced to walk away from their ancestral homes and lands. This Forced Exile was shaped by President Andrew Jackson in 1930 when he signed into law the "Indian Removal Act'.  Many men, women and children suffered and died on the way away. 

Slavery was also "legal" at the time, but it was wrong then and wrong now.

U.S. workers paying taxes are currently forced to be wage slaves for Israel.  I object.  So do many well-informed college students and protestors worldwide who are horrified by Israel's flagrant violations of international law and basic human rights.  But that is hard for American politicians and CEOs to comprehend because our mainstream media promotes Israeli propaganda instead of American ideals of equality, justice, and liberty for ALL.

Don't let "the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination" cripple peace and the rule of fair and just laws here or there.

The billions annually given by U.S. to defend Israel's segregated delusions of democracy are being seriously misspent on making a bad situation worse. 

Sincerely,

Anne Selden Annab

Notes  https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/Notes

"One hundred years later [after the end of slavery] the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. 1963

Photograph shows a woman in a traditional embroidered Palestinian dress and headdress, standing on balcony on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, Palestine. Probable date of photo 1918

People who protest war crimes get longer sentences than people who commit war crimes

"Gaza in all likelihood would be only a first step. If such ethnic cleansing ever became acceptable, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem would surely follow. Even the so-called Arab population of Israel..." Kenneth Roth

"Gaza in all likelihood would be only a first step. If such ethnic cleansing ever became acceptable, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem would surely follow. Even the so-called Arab population of Israel..." Kenneth Roth

"Much of the western media have been complicit in dehumanizing Palestinians and normalizing what many experts have termed a genocide." Trump’s Gaza remarks are no surprise: ethnic cleansing was always the plan.

It's been 1,000 days since Israeli forces INTENTIONALLY TARGETED & killed renowned Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh [April 3, 1971 – May 11, 2022]

Netzarim is not a corridor; it is a large land grab carried out through the killing of Palestinian people and the destruction of their homes in Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps, and the neighbourhoods of al-Mughraqa, az-Zahra, Zeitoun, Juhor ad-Dik, and others. It is not some smart military strategy; it was and continues to be another way of terrorising the people of Gaza.

After 15 months, the body of 8-year-old Ola Saleh Farwana was recovered, tragically buried under the rubble of her home in Gaza, destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on the night of October 13, 2023

UNRWA delivers bulk of aid in Gaza, as destruction mounts in West Bank

‘Princess Bride’ Actor Wallace Shawn Compares Israeli Treatment of Gaza to Nazi Germany “Some of them might in 10 years wake up and say, ‘Why did I justify that?’”

United Nations 🇺🇳 Working for peace, rights and wellbeing since 1945. World Interfaith Harmony Week ... Every single soul matters

Rosa Parks: "Differences of race, nationality,or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges."

Building a Culture of Peace ...

IMEU: Israel has permanently disabled tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.

"All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered." - Article 2 of the United Nations Charter

In “Tent,” Palestinian poet and artist Asmaa Dwaima offers a brief, heartbreaking lyric that explores the unimaginable suffering of Gaza’s children as they endure the brutalities of genocide.

The Inaugural Joint Statement of The Hague Group, January 31, 2025

Systematic Oppression by Israel

UN Palestinian Rights Committee Bureau welcomes Gaza ceasefire, demands full implementation and move towards a solution of the conflict, and condemns Israel’s UNRWA ban perpetuating Palestinian suffering

Segregation is the act or process of separating individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, class, or ethnicity, often resulting in unequal treatment and access to resources. It can occur through enforced laws or voluntary actions, leading to distinct living, educational, and social conditions for different groups.

State Sponsored Segregation is OPPRESSION and INJUSTICE

In 1948 United Nations Mediator Count Folke Bernadotte pointed out that "IT WOULD BE AN OFFENCE AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE IF THOSE INNOCENT VICTIMS [Palestinian men, women, & children] COULD NOT RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WHILE [Zionist] IMMIGRANTS FLOWED INTO PALESTINE TO TAKE THEIR PLACE"

2 years later

UNWRA the United Nations agency to provide education, healthcare, relief and social services to officially displaced Palestinian refugees began operations 1 May 1950.

75 year later & counting Israeli racism, injustice, supremacism, and violence is only becoming more entrenched and dangerous.

"For Israel to unilaterally ban Unrwa operations in the occupied Palestinian territories in a period of unparalleled deprivation and social need, following 15 months of total siege and constant bombardment in Gaza and relentless military and settler aggression in the West Bank, is immoral, illegal and inhumane." Stephen McCloskey

Anne Frank 1929-1945 + Hind Rajab 2018-2024... NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE

2018 UNWRA spokesman Sami Mshasha "There are [Israeli] think tanks, researchers and specialists whose aim is to undermine the agency," he told Middle East Eye.

The United States, European countries, and other major donors must re-evaluate their concerns about the UN’s agency for Palestine refugees in light of the imperative to aid vulnerable populations and take immediate steps to renew funding for UNRWA’s vital humanitarian mission amidst the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

"It's outlandish that a Member State of the UN system would choose to undo the mandate of an organisation, which is mandated by the UN General Assembly."

The UK, France & Germany urge Israel to abide by its international obligations & ensure humanitarian access. No entity can replace @UNRWA’s critical role.

"A humanitarian official told CNN that organizations are concerned about foreign powers like China and Russia using the US aid freeze to increase their own soft power overseas. And there are concerns that non-state actors, like terrorist groups and child soldier recruiters, could gain influence in areas where US funding currently supports refugee camps, the official highlighted."

Please do not demonize and silence or destroy people who speak out peacefully against corruption, injustice, racism, bigotry, and violence of every type.

My Letters https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/letters

 

"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world..."   https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

 

In the aftermath of the ceasefire in Gaza, 1.9 million displaced people urgently need shelter, aid, and psycho-social support.⁣ ⁣UNRWA plays a vital role in fostering stability and resilience during this critical time.⁣

"One hundred years later [after the end of slavery] the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. 1963

Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial for his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I Have a Dream

delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now."  1963 I Have A Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

Rosa Parks: "Differences of race, nationality,or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges."

UN Women

@UN_Women

 

Rosa Parks, born #OnThisDay in 1913, was an American civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on the bus as an act of resistance to segregation. She reminds us of the importance of speaking up for inequalities and rejecting racism. #BlackHistoryMonth

Segregation is the act or process of separating individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, class, or ethnicity, often resulting in unequal treatment and access to resources. It can occur through enforced laws or voluntary actions, leading to distinct living, educational, and social conditions for different groups.

State Sponsored Segregation is OPPRESSION and INJUSTICE

Segregation In The  1950s America 

The Ku Klux Klan burning a cross in Tennessee, 1948.  The Ku Klux Klan employed terror in pursuit of their white supremacist agenda

1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I HAVE A DREAM

"Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But 100 years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. 

When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men — yes, Black men as well as white men — would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds.

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt..."

meanwhile

Israeli imposed Segregation in what had been historic Palestine 1948-2025 so far

Nakba means "Catastrophe" in Arabic. It refers to the destruction of Palestinian society in 1948 when approximately 750,000 Palestinians fled or were forced into exile by Israeli troops. Because the Palestinians were not Jewish, their presence and predominant ownership of the land were considered obstacles to the creation of a Jewish state. Their exodus, or Nakba, was already nearly half-complete by May 1948, when Israel declared its independence and the Arab states entered the fray.

In 1948 United Nations Mediator Count Folke Bernadotte pointed out that "IT WOULD BE AN OFFENCE AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE IF THOSE INNOCENT VICTIMS [Palestinian men, women, & children] COULD NOT RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WHILE [Zionist] IMMIGRANTS FLOWED INTO PALESTINE TO TAKE THEIR PLACE"

2 years later

UNWRA the United Nations agency to provide education, healthcare, relief and social services to officially displaced Palestinian refugees began operations 1 May 1950.

75 year later & counting Israeli racism, injustice, supremacism, and violence is only becoming more entrenched and dangerous.

2025 ‘Branded’: Satellite images show Star of David carved into Gaza

The symbol, apparently created by Israeli tanks, can be seen from space in the Palestinian enclave.

2025 in Gaza: Palestinians re-entering their abandoned neighborhoods have found the bodies of loved ones crushed beneath the ruins of their homes.

Dear President Biden... Connect The Dots

@UNRWA  estimates that around 800,000 people have fled Rafah since Israel's military operations intensified. Families flee looking for safety, but living conditions deteriorate by the day and no place is safe in the Gaza Strip.

Dear President Biden,

"Democracy worthy of our dreams starts with opening the doors for every one without exceptions." Biden's speech at Morehouse College May 2024 graduation ceremonies.

During the 1930s-1970s maps were made and Federal Loans were denied to red lined Black neighborhoods. Eventually, through the efforts of organizers like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the resulting protests, the Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964, outlawing discrimination, though desegregation was a slow process, especially in schools.

YES, democracy worthy of our dreams MUST open doors for everyone without exception.

Slavery and segregation are all wrong.  Please connect the dots... real democracy needs our support, not Israel. 

Israel has targeted and murdered multiple Palestinian journalists, stifled free speech, violated international law, imprisoned countless Palestinian men, women & children, and freely bombs universities, bookstores, businesses, neighborhoods, refugee camps, roads, cars, schools, restaurants, and other countries over and over again. 

Israel, fully funded by America, punitively demolishes Palestinian homes, destroys Palestinian communities, and kills Palestinian men, women and children.

Why is Atlanta building a $90 million dollar Israeli inspired "COP CITY" usurping 100 acres of forest to create a tactical training compound featuring a mock city?!

Why are American police forces being trained by Israel?!

There is a better way forward, for everyone: Enough with foolishly wasting American money on Israel and COP CITY antics.

Fund true community needs- not Israel.    Start honoring basic human rights and respect for all people, regardless of supposed race or religion.

No more delusions for Israel.  No more support for Apartheid Walls, IDF checkpoints, conniving Zionist propaganda, and COP CITY vice.

Enough with destroying hopes and dreams here and in Palestine.

Invest in goodness- not Israel.

Sincerely,

Anne Selden Annab

NOTES  https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/Notes

A telling sign at a recent Atlanta protest reads "FROM THE West End TO THE West Bank STOP COP CITY Free Palestine" 

An ICJ Excerpt: "This genocide takes place within the context of the ongoing Nakba –– the 76th anniversary of which was celebrated yesterday –– the continued forced displacement of the Palestinian people, the erasure of Palestinian presence in Palestine and replacement with colonial settlers –– a criminal process entrenched and maintained by 76 years of apartheid and 56 years of illegal belligerent occupation... " 

Palestine Nakba 1948-2024 

NAKBA 76 years so far....

Anti-Defamation League ramps up lobbying to promote controversial definition of antisemitism : Federal records show a dramatic spending increase that critics say is primarily intended to punish criticism of Israel and target pro-Palestinian groups

On Nakba Day, as Palestinians run for their lives, Biden advances $1 billion in arms sales to Israel – Day 221

From 1948 to 2024, three Palestinian sisters speak of endless Nakba For Dalal

‘Barbaric’: Palestinian lorry drivers recount settlers’ attack on Gaza aid convoy- Israeli soldiers escorting convoy accused of doing nothing to stop widely condemned incident

The Nakba Explained- May 15th is the day commemorating the Nakba—a term used to denote Palestinians’ forced expulsion from their homeland by Zionist forces in 1948. 

Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour reflects on the impact of the Gaza war, the life and legacy of his friend Fathi Ghaben, and the role of art under occupation.

Palestinians are living a new Nakba: survivor of 1948 says

76 years after #Nakba, Palestinians continue to be forcibly displaced. 

Nakba yesterday, Nakba today: The story of my grandmother's two keys- Ghefreh has lived through two Nakbas, 1948 and today. Her grandson Emad Moussa tells her story of twinned displacement and how they've now blurred into one.

Release The Hostages Poem by Palestinian Poet Mosab Abu Toha 

May 15th poem-a-day from the Academy of American Poets:We Live We Live by Brandy Nālani McDougall- For Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, with lines from his poems

I wear the traditional black and white scarf to celebrate my heritage. That’s enough to make you a target in the US today

The Guardian: ‘No water, food, health care, toilet’: Desperation deepens in Gaza’s camps 

The New Yorker: The View from Palestinian America In Kholood Eid’s photographs of Missouri, taken six months into the war in Gaza, the quiet act of documenting life is a kind of protest against erasure. By Zaina Arafat Photography by Kholood Eid

In these challenging times, it is heartening to witness the remarkable solidarity and support from university students across the #USA many #European countries & others around the world standing with #Gaza. #StandWithGaza #StudentsForPeace #HumanRights #StopGenocideInGaza

‘Our struggles are connected’: Atlanta protesters link Cop City to Gaza war: Campus protesters say issue of police training center and its connections to Israel has been on their minds for months

Israel attacked aid workers despite knowing their locations: Human Rights Watch documents eight Israeli strikes on humanitarian groups that had provided their coordinates in advance

Spotted in a pro-Palestine demonstration in Ottawa, Canada.... "Israel Did It in 1948... 56...67...82...2002...08...14...21...23..."

English guitar legend Eric Clapton kicks off his concert by playing a guitar adorned with the Palestinian flag.🇵🇸

[CNN] Israeli whistleblowers detail abuse of Palestinians in shadowy detention...

There are enough weapons of war and destruction already on planet earth.

Please stop aiding and abetting Israeli insanity. Full Stop.

Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

The UN Mediator for Palestine, Count Folke Bernadotte, believed that the Palestinians displaced had a right to return to their homes and wrote several UN reports to that effect.

"It would be an offence against the principles of elemental justice if these innocent victims of the conflict were denied the right to return to their homes while Jewish immigrants flow into Palestine, and, indeed, at least offer the threat of permanent replacement of the Arab refugees who have been rooted in the land for centuries."

Bernadotte was assassinated on Friday 17 September 1948 by members of the group Lehi, a Zionist terrorist organization, commonly known in the West as the Stern Gang 

 

 PALESTINE REMEMBERED

 

"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world..."   https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights