Deputy Hamas chief assassinated in Beirut; kidnapped Palestinian babies and children; sound of prayer calls disappearing; Israel partially withdrawing from northern Gaza; vaccines in Gaza; 5 killed in West Bank; US deviates from script, criticizes Israeli leaders
2023 in review: 12 months of blood on Israeli and American hands
2023 will be remembered for its last 3 months, when tens of thousands of Gazans were massacred with the blessing of the US government, when the world watched a “live-streamed genocide.” The first 9 months of 2023 were also far from peaceful. Here is a run-down of the coverage that If Americans Knew provided.
As the world rang in the new year, Palestinians in Gaza “ran for their lives” – Day 86
A deadly day for Palestinian prisoners in Israel and Gaza; report on violence against Palestinians in Jerusalem; 2023 saw highest ever settler violence; Israeli friendly fire
“Children eat rotten food, adults hunt cats: famine is coming for Gaza” – Day 85
Gaza’s orphans; famine in the offing; the school and housing crises; NYT’s “investigation” into rape allegations falls short; free speech takes a hit in Berlin; Biden claims 2023 “accomplishments” include supporting Israel; longtime investigative journalist James Bamford exposes secretive operation
NY Times: Where Was the Israeli Military on October 7th?
“The army does not prepare itself for things it thinks are impossible…The soldiers that day made it up as they went along.”
900,000 children in Gaza suffer from cold, hunger, and lack of drinking water – Day 84
South Africa invokes the Genocide Convention against Israel; Wall Street Journal reports: Gaza “most devastating warfare in the modern record”; Abandon Biden campaign expands; schools in Gaza hard hit; Voice of Palestine radio program hacked; vaccines for kids; Israeli military kills another Israeli hostage
Biden admin bypasses Congress for $147.5m weapons sale to Israel – Day 83
Blinken avoids congressional oversight in weapon sale to Israel; Israeli military targets UN humanitarian aid convoy, historical sites, steals from Gazan homes; Gazan food insecurity is “catastrophic”; Israeli envoy threatens Lebanon; Gaza medical workers tortured, journalist killed; multiple incidents in West Bank; Friday worship disrupted in Jerusalem
Over 21,000 dead in Gaza, 7,000 missing – Day 82
Bombing, fire, destruction in Gaza; 3 deaths in West Bank; Israeli forces raid currency exchanges, seize cash, make arrests; settler attack on clergy; Israeli military and Shin Bet admit to mistakes
9,000 Gazan children have undergone amputations, many without anesthesia – Day 81
241 killed in Gaza in 24 hours; Gazan prisoners of Israel report horrific torture; Israeli military leader would not hesitate to attack “safe zones” if needed; Palestinian organs said to be stolen; 6 killed by drone attack in West Bank
At least 250 Gazans killed on Christmas Day – Day 80
Bodies of Palestinians stolen by Israel, returned, reportedly show signs of organ harvesting; 2 killed, 50 made homeless in West Bank; US gives Israel a tentative “No” to request for helicopters; Israel admits to killing 2 more of its own; Netanyahu floats idea of “voluntary transfer” of Gazans