GLOBAL MARCH TO GAZA KICKS OFF

In the shadow of what UN experts have called ‘g*nocide,’ a global movement is rising to stop Israel’s bombardments and escalated siege of Gaza.

Israel has sealed Gaza’s borders, blocked aid and flattened the majority of the strip. Yet, activists worldwide are preparing for what may be one of the boldest solidarity actions in recent memory: The Global March to Gaza to demand an end to the siege.

More than 2,000 people from 54 countries and 150 NGOs have pledged to march June 12-15 near the border crossing. 

Among the participants is Nelson Mandela's grandson and South African politician Nkosi Zwelivelile (@nkosizwelivelile on IG), who in a video that @africa4palestine posted on 12 June, reported that the demonstrators had been stopped at a checkpoint one hour outside Cairo, with Egyptian authorities confiscating their passports.

Continued…….. African Stream got to interview Saif Abu Keshek, a member of the International Coordination Committee for the Global March to Gaza and chairman of the Global Coalition Against the Occupation of Palestine. He’s helping organise the protest heading toward Rafah, Egypt, the only border crossing Israel doesn’t control. 

The march comes as the situation in Gaza reaches a breaking point. Israel's Western-backed military onslaught has k*lled over 62,000 Palestinians and injured more than 120,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. However, the Lancet medical journal reported in July 2024 that as many as 186,000 had been k*lled. Further, Israel has bombed hospitals, schools, food convoys and refugee camps. More than 2 million people are now displaced.

The march is a call to reclaim moral clarity in a world drowning in complicity.

Find more information at marchtogaza.net.

Video/image credits: @pal_Online9 @globalmarchtogaza

Sources

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/global-march-to-gaza-activists-from-31-countries-plan-march-to-rafah-border-/3577641

https://www.gmfpalestine.com/

https://marchtogaza.net/

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147976

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/un-special-committee-finds-israels-warfare-methods-gaza-consistent-genocide

https://press.un.org/en/2024/gapal1473.doc.htm

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza

https://www.instagram.com/p/DK18K78tYyL/?hl=en

https://marchtogaza.net

BUSTING MYTHS ABOUT BLACK FATHERS

Happy Father's Day!

Whether it's right-wing politicians, the media, or structural racism in the United States, the stereotype of the absent Black father, perpetuated for decades, is simply a lie! This myth remains pervasive despite numerous studies debunking it. That includes a 2011 Pew Research Center study that found Black fathers are among the most active in their children's lives, even when not living with their children.

In this video, journalist Salifu Mack sets the facts straight about Black fathers in the United States today.

GOOD NEWS SUNDAY

As the world watches, Africa is on the rise. One South African woman, Bohlale Mphahlele, has developed an earpiece that alerts others of s*xual offences while a Nigerian woman, Saviour Iwezue, is rallying thousands for climate justice. On the continent, no saviours are needed, just African resourcefulness. Here are our uplifting stories from Africa to end the week.

Image credits: @the.izehi (IG), @_bohlalemphahlele (IG)

Sources

https://thred.com/tech/bohlale-mphahleles-battle-against-gender-based-violence-in-south-africa/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HYq5Zth1kw

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dwv9nn

https://hsrc.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Executive-Summary-Final-16-November-2024-1.pdf

https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/press-releases/parenting-support-crucial-tool-endviolence

Continued…….. https://www.ashoka.org/en-ke/story/how-nigerian-teen-saviour-iwezue-mobilising-thousands-climate-solutions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jemzxQbbauc

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2022%3A6&version=NKJV

ISRAEL K*LLS CHILDREN ON PURPOSE

In a recent episode of MintPress News’ podcast, founder and director Mnar Adley (@MnarMuh on X) had a revealing conversation with US-based Tanzanian ICU emergency-room trauma nurse Willy Massay. He spent six weeks working in critical emergency rooms in Gaza, including at Nasser Hospital in the besieged territory's southern region, Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza and the Indonesian Hospital in North Gaza. 

Continued……The Nebraska-based nurse stated that 'Israel kills children in Gaza on purpose,' describing the injuries he had witnessed, including children shot multiple times in the head, chest and groin. His testimony adds to the growing body of evidence, including reports from the United Nations and other international organisations, that contradict Israel’s claims that it only targets those who are either H*mas operatives or so-called ‘human shields.'

Ironically, Tel Aviv officials often make statements that justify the collective punishment of Palestinians, a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention that governs civilians' treatment during conflicts. For example, in 2023, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a ‘complete siege’ on Gaza, declaring that Israel was ‘fighting human animals.’

According to the UN's statement in January 2024, only 17 out of 36 hospitals remained partially functional by early December 2024. In early 2024, Israel conducted an air raid on Al Aqsa Hospital. Workers there say Israeli forces also tortured and beat them. In May 2025, Israel struck Indonesian Hospital. Nasser Hospital remains South Gaza’s last major functioning hospital. Still, monitoring organisations have recently called for its protection due to Israeli airstrikes and nearby forced displacement orders. In 2024, bodies found buried at the hospital site reportedly showed signs of torture and execution.

Video credit: @MintPressNews on X

Sources

https://www.mintpressnews.com/gaza-hospitals-nurse-testimony-shooting-boys-genocide/289919/

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/assault-children-un-experts-condemn-renewed-attacks-unrwa-schools-gaza-and

https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/3/18/children-killed-in-strikes-israel-says-targeted-hamas-terror

https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-179791/

https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/more-women-and-children-killed-gaza-israeli-military-any-other-recent-conflict

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7893vpy2gqo

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte/20241029-us-doctor-claims-israeli-snipers-target-child-in-gaza-no-child-gets-shot-twice-by-mistakea

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/02/gaza-palestinian-children-killed-idf-israel-war

https://www.dci-palestine.org/israeli_snipers_target_palestinian_children_in_gaza

https://theconversation.com/israels-war-on-gaza-is-deliberately-targeting-children-new-un-report-252398

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/25/israel-gaza-doctors-surgeons-healthcare-detention-international-law

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/25/signs-of-torture-as-nearly-400-bodies-found-at-gaza-hospitals-mass-graves

https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/map-demands-immediate-protection-nasser-hospital-south-gazas-last-major-hospital

https://www.msf.org/strikes-raids-and-incursions-year-relentless-attacks-healthcare-palestine

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-airstrike-targets-power-generators-at-indonesian-hospital-in-gaza/3573420

https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/should-not-be-experienced-by-anybody-nurse-willy-shares-gaza-experience/article_c7741f79-f36f-4292-9392-0c075aea0e24.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/13/timeline-israels-attacks-on-hospitals-throughout-its-war-on-gaza

JEREMY CORBYN: THIS IS A LIVESTREAMED G*NOCIDE, NOT A WAR!

On 4 June, UK Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn declared to his colleagues that Israel's assault on Gaza 'was never a war but a g*nocide, livestreamed all over the world.' 

That day, he introduced a bill requesting a comprehensive, public and independent enquiry into the UK's arms sales, intelligence provisions and military cooperation with Israel amidst its military onslaught. The bombardments and escalated siege may have k*lled as many as 186,000 people by July 2024, according to the Lancet medical journal.

Ruling Labour Party whips reportedly told MPs to abstain or vote against the bill that day. Still, the party's rank-and-file members demand radical action to stop the UK from supplying Israel.

Continued……If the bill passes, it would lead to an investigation similar to the 2016 enquiry into the UK's decision to join a US-led coalition to invade and occupy Iraq in 2003.

Corbyn accused Israel of collective punishment and civilian starvation and argued that continuous arms sales by the UK make it complicit in Israel's military onslaught. British companies export parts to F-35 fighters deployed in Israeli attacks. The UK has not halted arms export licences. Corbyn said the UK's actions could violate the 1948 G*nocide Convention, which defines g*nocide as acts intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group and obligates states to prevent and punish such crimes.

Global pressure is mounting. South Africa took the g*nocide case to the International Court of Justice in December 2023, with several countries joining the case. Meanwhile, experts at the UN have warned that Israel's actions, including mass k*lling, starvation, and destruction of infrastructure, may constitute the legal definition of g*nocide.

Video credit: @jeremycorbyn (X)

Sources

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk-export-f-35-parts-israel-unlawful-palestinian-ngo-tells-court-2025-05-13/#:~:text=LONDON%2C%20May%2013%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Britain's%20decision,group%20told%20London's%20High%20Court%20on%20Tuesday.

https://www.oas.org/dil/1948_Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Genocide.pdf

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67922346

https://www.un.org/unispal/document/genocide-as-colonial-erasure-report-francesca-albanese-01oct24/

https://www.stopwar.org.uk/article/jeremy-corbyn-calls-for-a-chilcot-like-inquiry-into-uks-role-in-israels-assault-in-gaza/

https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/jeremy-corbyn-stokes-divisions-gaza-vote

The week’s proverb evokes a vivid image of Africa besieged by ravenous predatory powers, an urgent call for vigilance when imperial vultures circle, eager to strip us bare. It resonates with a recent SwissAid report, which exposes countries that serve as hubs for smuggled gold from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Billions’ worth flow out each year, fuelling violence, exploitation and instability. The ‘vultures’ are the neocolonial financiers, Western-backed elites, complicit officials and imperial foreign markets that prey on Africa’s resources. Every day, Africans must muster their resilience to resist this exploitation - to ‘try not to die’ - by reclaiming control over vital resources.

Sources

https://swissaid.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/swissaid-on-the-trail-of-african-gold-web-ok.pdf

TUPAC: U.S. SOCIETY LEECHES OFF THE GHETTO

Fifty-four years ago today, on 16 June 1971, hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur, who cemented his legacy in the history books before his tragic death in 1996, was born. 

In this candid moment during his 1994 interview with MTV News’ Abbie Kearse, Tupac explained that no matter how far he climbed as an artist and how much he earned, he could not ignore the systemic inequities that Black people face. That is why he used his platform to shed light on these issues.