Antonio Guterres invokes Article 99 of UN Charter, urges UNSC to prevent further humanitarian crisis in Gaza

For the first time in his tenure, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter which allows the SG to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.” Guterres sent a letter to Jose Javier de la Gasca Lopez Domínguez, President of the Security Council, invoking the article, to call the attention of the UNSC to the situation in Gaza.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/06/antonio-guterres-invokes-article-99-of-un-charter-urges-unsc-to-prevent-further-humanitarian-crisis-in-gaza/

UAW workers call on their union endorse BDS
UAW Labor for Palestine, a rank and file working group within one of North America’s largest unions, the United Auto Workers, is organizing their union to endorse the Palestinian Trade Union call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS). This announcement comes on the heels of UAW International’s unprecedented call for a ceasefire last week.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/06/uaw-workers-call-on-their-union-endorse-bds/

Censorship of grassroots voices at global health conference raises concerns

The People’s Health Movement was removed from the organizing committee of the Prince Mahidol Awards Conference following an article criticizing presence of fossil fuel companies at public health events.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/07/censorship-of-grassroots-voices-at-global-health-conference-raises-concerns/

Senate Republicans block $111 billion aid package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan

Senate Republicans blocked a procedural vote on a USD 111 billion aid package introduced by Senate Democrats, which would have provided military aid to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel. Republicans argued that it did not allot enough money to the US-Mexico border.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/07/senate-republicans-block-111-billion-aid-package-for-israel-ukraine-and-taiwan/

One year since the coup in Peru

December 7 marks one year since the coup against President Pedro Castillo in Peru, who was replaced by the unelected Dina Boluarte, who would quickly unleash a regime of death against mass protests within the country.


https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/07/one-year-since-the-coup-in-peru/

Today we have a new episode of Give The People What They Want!

Join Vijay Prashad, Prasanth R, and Zoe Alexandra as they bring you the most important developments in the world last week.

https://www.youtube.com/live/nEBEkhxjTrM?si=-ssMFSpfR8KGdeEj

🇹🇷 Turkish Medical Association confronts new wave of attacks

An Ankara court dissolved the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) at the end of November. The court’s decision is the latest in a long line of attacks against the organization, which is internationally recognized for its dedication to the right to health and protection of democracy.


https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/07/turkish-medical-association-confronts-new-wave-of-attacks/

It's been one week since Israel restarted its genocidal attack on Gaza after the humanitarian pause. Here is the toll Israel has caused in one week!

Since October 7, Israel has killed 17,487 people and injured 46,480 in Gaza.

The US once again vetoed a ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council, enabling more Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
#Gaza #ceasefirenow
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/08/more-health-workers-patients-killed-in-gaza-as-us-vetoes-ceasefire-resolution/

Internationally beloved academic, poet, and activist Dr. Refaat Alareer killed by Israel

Dr. Refaat Alareer a writer, an activist, and a poet from Gaza was killed with six other family members in an Israeli airstrike.

Alareer was the professor of English literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. He was a regular contributor for the Electronic Intifada, an online media organization focused on the situation on the ground across Historic Palestine.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/08/internationally-beloved-academic-poet-and-activist-dr-refaat-alareer-killed-by-israel/

🇬🇹 Guatemala’s Prosecutor’s Office announced on Dec 8 that the elections held this year must be annulled due to alleged administrative irregularities.

President-elect Bernardo Arevalo said: “we are facing an absurd, ridiculous and perverse coup d’état.”
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/10/president-elect-of-guatemala-bernardo-arevalo-warns-that-coup-detat-is-underway/

Bassam Al-Salhi of the Palestinian People’s Party says war on Gaza has revealed fascist nature of Israel and the West


The Secretary-General of the Palestinian People’s Party, Bassam Al-Salhi, said in an interview with Madaar that the October 7 operation showed that Israel “is vulnerable to important strikes and setbacks that have a major impact not only on the reality and present of this country, but on its future as well.”

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/11/bassam-al-salhi-of-the-palestinian-peoples-party-says-war-on-gaza-has-revealed-fascist-nature-of-israel-and-the-west/

MST sends another donation of 11 tons of food to families in Gaza

Another shipment of food produced by members of the Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST) left Brazil for families suffering under the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s almost complete blockade of the enclave. In total, the MST sent 11 tons of food, in its latest contributions to international humanitarian assistance efforts.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/11/mst-sends-another-donation-of-11-tons-of-food-to-families-in-gaza/

Houthis enforce embargo on ships heading to or leaving Israel

The Ansar Allah, or the Houthis, who lead the Yemeni government in capital Sanaa, declared that they had forced an Israel-bound ship to turn back on Sunday, December 10, as it was sailing through the Red Sea in violation of the warnings issued a day before.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/11/houthis-enforce-embargo-on-ships-heading-to-or-leaving-israel/

British workers organize to defeat the Tory anti-strike laws

Trade unions and left-wing sections in the UK are gearing up to challenge the anti-strike laws of the Tory government.

The anti-worker legislation effectively thwarts strikes by enforcing minimum services and penalizing strikers in three key sectors — the ambulance service, rail network, and border security.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/11/british-workers-organize-to-defeat-the-tory-anti-strike-laws/

🇵🇸 Death toll in Gaza from Israel’s genocidal war crosses 18,000

The genocidal Israeli onslaught on Gaza has led to the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians with the number of injured crossing 50,000 as of December 11.

According to reports, at least 300 Palestinians were killed and thousands of others injured in the 24 hours preceding Monday due to the intense Israeli bombardment. Egypt and Mauritania invoked the United Nations Resolution 377 to pressurize Israel to end its assault on Gaza and agree to a ceasefire. The UN General Assembly will be holding a special session on Tuesday to discuss the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/12/death-toll-in-gaza-from-israels-genocidal-war-crosses-18000/

WHO Executive Board adopts resolution calling for unimpeded flow of aid into Gaza

Members of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board successfully adopted a resolution on the health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian territories during a rare special session of this body.

The work behind the consensus was substantial, involving revisions of an original proposal brought forward by the representatives of Afghanistan, Morocco, Qatar, and Yemen. The final resolution calls for “the immediate, sustained, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, including the access of medical personnel,” among other things. It also refers to the invocation of Article 99 of the UN Charter by the Secretary-General António Guterres last week.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/12/who-executive-board-adopts-resolution-calling-for-unimpeded-flow-of-aid-into-gaza/

Thousands of people from the Basque city of Guernica hit the city center in a stunning display of solidarity with the people of Gaza who are facing Israel’s genocidal attacks.

The thousands who assembled at the Pasialeku Market Place in Guernica formed a human mosaic depicting the Palestinian flag and part of Pablo Picasso’s famed anti-war painting, Guernica.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/12/guernica-stands-in-solidarity-with-gaza/

After years of pressure from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which has intensified in recent months, the German company Puma announced on December 12 that it will drop its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association.

Puma’s stores have been the target of protests in recent weeks, such as a picket line outside of a Boston store on Black Friday, and an occupation of a store by demonstrators in Manchester, England.

“We thank the hundreds of grassroots solidarity groups, athletes and teams across the world who supported the call from 215 Palestinian teams to boycott PUMA,” BDS stated.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/12/12/puma-drops-israel/

International pressure on Israel continues.

On December 11, people in dozens of cities across the world participated in a general strike for Palestine to demand the end of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.

The United Nations General Assembly just voted overwhelmingly in favor of a humanitarian ceasefire. On Friday, the United States exercised its veto power to block a resolution in the Security Council calling for the same. 153 countries voted in favor of the UNGA resolution, 23 abstained, and 10 voted against, including the United States and Israel.