SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani stands among attendees at the New York Working Families Party rally in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, New York.
(Photo: Madison Swart/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
UAW President Shawn Fain Throws Weight Behind NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani
The United Auto Workers on Monday released a video highlighting former Democratic New York governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo's "failures for working-class New Yorkers."
Jun 03, 2025
With only a few weeks to go until New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, the United Auto Workers released a video on Monday denouncing former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and featuring mayoral candidate and state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, whom UAW Region 9a recently announced as their first pick in the race.
The video includes clips of Mamdani, fellow mayoral candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander, and UAW officials, who highlight episodes from Cuomo's tenure as governor which they indicate make him a unfit to lead New York City as mayor.
Mamdani highlights Cuomo's backing of "Tier 6," an unpopular policy approved in 2012 that cut pension benefits for future public employees and raised the retirement age to 63. Cuomo has said on the campaign trail that he would roll back that policy.
Wence Valentin III, Region 9a Community Action Program director, said in the video that in 2019, when thousands of UAW workers at General Motors were on strike, Cuomo did not sign legislation that would have given striking workers in New York State earlier access to unemployment benefits.
The video concludes with text on screen that says: "UAW says no to Cuomo."
"In the UAW, our endorsements are earned," said UAW International President Shawn Fain in a statement released with the video on Monday. "We support politicians who stand with us, and who have the courage to fight for the working class."
"Zohran Mamdani has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in our fight against some of the toughest bosses in New York City. He's been to countless UAW picket lines. He's fought for better wages, for our livelihoods, and for a livable city for UAW members," added Fain.
Mamdani, who recent polling shows is now solidly in second place behind Cuomo, was endorsed by United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9a, which includes several union locals based in New York City, back in December alongside two other candidates in the race, Lander and state Senator Jessica Ramos.
New York City uses ranked choice voting for certain elections, including primary and special elections for mayor. The system allows voters to rank multiple candidates on their ballots. Because voters can rank multiple candidates, many entities that offer endorsements have given out endorsements as a slate and given guidance on how to rank the candidates.
On Friday, Region 9a announced that it is recommending voters rank Mamdani first on their ballot. Region 9a is calling on voters to rank Lander second and Ramos third.
Also on Friday, the Working Families Party released the ranking of its endorsements. The political party is urging voters to rank Mamdani first, Lander second, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams third, state Senator Zellnor Myrie fourth, and Ramos fifth.
While the UAW has been critical of Cuomo, other influential unions are supporting him in the race. Two affiliates of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU 32BJ and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, have endorsed Cuomo, as has the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.
The primary is on June 24 and early voting begins on June 14.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
With only a few weeks to go until New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, the United Auto Workers released a video on Monday denouncing former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and featuring mayoral candidate and state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, whom UAW Region 9a recently announced as their first pick in the race.
The video includes clips of Mamdani, fellow mayoral candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander, and UAW officials, who highlight episodes from Cuomo's tenure as governor which they indicate make him a unfit to lead New York City as mayor.
Mamdani highlights Cuomo's backing of "Tier 6," an unpopular policy approved in 2012 that cut pension benefits for future public employees and raised the retirement age to 63. Cuomo has said on the campaign trail that he would roll back that policy.
Wence Valentin III, Region 9a Community Action Program director, said in the video that in 2019, when thousands of UAW workers at General Motors were on strike, Cuomo did not sign legislation that would have given striking workers in New York State earlier access to unemployment benefits.
The video concludes with text on screen that says: "UAW says no to Cuomo."
"In the UAW, our endorsements are earned," said UAW International President Shawn Fain in a statement released with the video on Monday. "We support politicians who stand with us, and who have the courage to fight for the working class."
"Zohran Mamdani has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in our fight against some of the toughest bosses in New York City. He's been to countless UAW picket lines. He's fought for better wages, for our livelihoods, and for a livable city for UAW members," added Fain.
Mamdani, who recent polling shows is now solidly in second place behind Cuomo, was endorsed by United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9a, which includes several union locals based in New York City, back in December alongside two other candidates in the race, Lander and state Senator Jessica Ramos.
New York City uses ranked choice voting for certain elections, including primary and special elections for mayor. The system allows voters to rank multiple candidates on their ballots. Because voters can rank multiple candidates, many entities that offer endorsements have given out endorsements as a slate and given guidance on how to rank the candidates.
On Friday, Region 9a announced that it is recommending voters rank Mamdani first on their ballot. Region 9a is calling on voters to rank Lander second and Ramos third.
Also on Friday, the Working Families Party released the ranking of its endorsements. The political party is urging voters to rank Mamdani first, Lander second, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams third, state Senator Zellnor Myrie fourth, and Ramos fifth.
While the UAW has been critical of Cuomo, other influential unions are supporting him in the race. Two affiliates of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU 32BJ and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, have endorsed Cuomo, as has the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.
The primary is on June 24 and early voting begins on June 14.
From Your Site Articles
- Democratic Socialist Mamdani Puts Dent in Cuomo's Lead in NYC Mayoral Race ›
- 'Mamdani-Mentum': AOC Endorses Democratic Socialist for NYC Mayor | Common Dreams ›
- Progressive Economists Say Mamdani Offers Antidote to Failed NYC Austerity Policies | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | NYC’s Compelling Mayoral Primary Is a Microcosm of the Democratic Party | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Mamdani Shows Us How to Defeat Trump's MAGA Vision | Common Dreams ›
- Melting Down Over NYC Mayoral Primary, Trump Calls Mamdani '100% Communist Lunatic' | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Mamdani’s Victory With Jewish Support Was A Triumph for Solidarity | Common Dreams ›
- Mamdani and Backers Ridicule Cuomo for Independent Run After Democratic Primary Defeat | Common Dreams ›
With only a few weeks to go until New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, the United Auto Workers released a video on Monday denouncing former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and featuring mayoral candidate and state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, whom UAW Region 9a recently announced as their first pick in the race.
The video includes clips of Mamdani, fellow mayoral candidate and city Comptroller Brad Lander, and UAW officials, who highlight episodes from Cuomo's tenure as governor which they indicate make him a unfit to lead New York City as mayor.
Mamdani highlights Cuomo's backing of "Tier 6," an unpopular policy approved in 2012 that cut pension benefits for future public employees and raised the retirement age to 63. Cuomo has said on the campaign trail that he would roll back that policy.
Wence Valentin III, Region 9a Community Action Program director, said in the video that in 2019, when thousands of UAW workers at General Motors were on strike, Cuomo did not sign legislation that would have given striking workers in New York State earlier access to unemployment benefits.
The video concludes with text on screen that says: "UAW says no to Cuomo."
"In the UAW, our endorsements are earned," said UAW International President Shawn Fain in a statement released with the video on Monday. "We support politicians who stand with us, and who have the courage to fight for the working class."
"Zohran Mamdani has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in our fight against some of the toughest bosses in New York City. He's been to countless UAW picket lines. He's fought for better wages, for our livelihoods, and for a livable city for UAW members," added Fain.
Mamdani, who recent polling shows is now solidly in second place behind Cuomo, was endorsed by United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9a, which includes several union locals based in New York City, back in December alongside two other candidates in the race, Lander and state Senator Jessica Ramos.
New York City uses ranked choice voting for certain elections, including primary and special elections for mayor. The system allows voters to rank multiple candidates on their ballots. Because voters can rank multiple candidates, many entities that offer endorsements have given out endorsements as a slate and given guidance on how to rank the candidates.
On Friday, Region 9a announced that it is recommending voters rank Mamdani first on their ballot. Region 9a is calling on voters to rank Lander second and Ramos third.
Also on Friday, the Working Families Party released the ranking of its endorsements. The political party is urging voters to rank Mamdani first, Lander second, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams third, state Senator Zellnor Myrie fourth, and Ramos fifth.
While the UAW has been critical of Cuomo, other influential unions are supporting him in the race. Two affiliates of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU 32BJ and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, have endorsed Cuomo, as has the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.
The primary is on June 24 and early voting begins on June 14.
From Your Site Articles
- Democratic Socialist Mamdani Puts Dent in Cuomo's Lead in NYC Mayoral Race ›
- 'Mamdani-Mentum': AOC Endorses Democratic Socialist for NYC Mayor | Common Dreams ›
- Progressive Economists Say Mamdani Offers Antidote to Failed NYC Austerity Policies | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | NYC’s Compelling Mayoral Primary Is a Microcosm of the Democratic Party | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Mamdani Shows Us How to Defeat Trump's MAGA Vision | Common Dreams ›
- Melting Down Over NYC Mayoral Primary, Trump Calls Mamdani '100% Communist Lunatic' | Common Dreams ›
- Opinion | Mamdani’s Victory With Jewish Support Was A Triumph for Solidarity | Common Dreams ›
- Mamdani and Backers Ridicule Cuomo for Independent Run After Democratic Primary Defeat | Common Dreams ›
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
LATEST NEWS
'Enough Is Enough': Sanders to Force Votes on Blocking Trump Arms Sales to Israel
"The time is long overdue for Congress to use the leverage we have—tens of billions in arms and military aid—to demand that Israel end these atrocities," said Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Jul 30, 2025
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said he intends to force votes on Wednesday to block the Trump administration's effort to send billions of dollars' worth of additional bombs and assault rifles to Israel as the country's military starves and massacres Gaza's population.
Sanders (I-Vt.) first introduced the resolutions in March after the Trump administration notified Congress of its plans to send Israel more weaponry, including thousands of 1,000-pound bombs and tens of thousands of assault rifles.
The senator's resolutions, S.J.Res.34 and S.J.Res.41, aim to prohibit the sale of 1,000-pound bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, and assault rifles, as well as related logistical support. The joint resolutions are privileged, meaning they cannot be amended and are not subject to the Senate filibuster, requiring just a simple-majority vote to pass.
"U.S. taxpayers have spent tens of billions of dollars in support of the racist, extremist Netanyahu government. Enough is enough," Sanders said in a statement Tuesday. "We cannot continue to spend taxpayer money on a government which has killed some 60,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 143,000—most of whom are women, children, and the elderly. We cannot continue supporting a government which has blocked humanitarian aid, caused massive famine, and literally starved the people of Gaza."
"The time is long overdue for Congress to use the leverage we have—tens of billions in arms and military aid—to demand that Israel end these atrocities," the senator added.
"Continuing these arms sales would violate U.S. laws that prohibit assistance to governments engaged in gross human rights abuses and obstruction of aid."
Since the start of President Donald Trump's second term, his administration has approved around $12 billion in arms sales to Israel and lifted a Biden-era block on the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs that Israeli forces have used to commit atrocities against Palestinians.
Earlier this year, Sanders led an unsuccessful effort to block the Trump administration's sale of nearly $9 billion in weapons to the Israeli government. Just 14 senators, all Democrats, backed the resolutions.
But there are some indications that support for blocking arms sales could grow as the starvation crisis that Israel has imposed on Gaza intensifies. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who did not support the resolutions Sanders tried to pass in April, said earlier this week that he would vote for "an end to any United States support whatsoever" for Israel "until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy."
"My litmus test will be simple: No aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government," said King.
Sanders argued that cutting off offensive U.S. military support for Israel is both a moral and legal necessity. In a press release announcing the impending votes, the senator's office noted that "the arms sales in question clearly violate the criteria laid out in the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act."
"Reliable human rights monitors have documented numerous incidents involving the use of 1,000-pound bombs and JDAMs in illegal strikes leading to unacceptable civilian death tolls," Sanders' office explained. "These include strikes in which hundreds of civilians have been killed and strikes on humanitarian facilities, including U.N. schools. The rifles in question will go to arm a police force overseen by Itamar Ben-Gvir, who advocates for the forcible expulsion of Palestinians from the region, who has been convicted of support for terrorism by an Israeli court, and who has distributed weapons to violent settlers in the West Bank."
Hassan El-Tayyab, legislative director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, applauded Sanders for moving once again to block U.S. arms sales to Israel "in light of its devastating conduct in Gaza."
"The Israeli military has used U.S.-origin weapons in attacks that have killed Palestinian civilians, destroyed civilian infrastructure, and deepened an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe," said El-Tayyab. "Continuing these arms sales would violate U.S. laws that prohibit assistance to governments engaged in gross human rights abuses and obstruction of aid. This resolution rightly affirms that U.S. weapons must not fuel further atrocities, and that only diplomacy, not more bombs, can bring an end to this crisis."
'Exceptionally Dangerous': Trump EPA Targets Endangerment Finding That Enables Climate Rules
"Zeldin's assertion that the EPA shouldn't address greenhouse gas emissions is like a fire chief claiming that they shouldn't fight fires," said one critic. "It is as malicious as it is absurd."
Jul 29, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration faced an onslaught of criticism on Tuesday for starting the process of repealing the 2009 legal opinion that greenhouse gases endanger public health and the welfare of the American people—which has enabled federal regulations aimed at the fossil fuel-driven climate emergency over the past 15 years.
Confirming reports from last week, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin unveiled the rule to rescind the 2009 "endangerment finding" at a truck dealership in Indiana. According to The New York Times, he said that "the proposal would, if finalized, amount to the largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States."
If the administration succeeds in repealing the legal finding, the EPA would lack authority under the Clean Air Act to impose standards for greenhouse gas emissions—meaning the move would kill vehicle regulations. As with the reporting last week, the formal announcement was sharply condemned by climate and health advocates and experts.
"Greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and are the root cause of the climate crisis," said Deanna Noël with Public Citizen's Climate Program, ripping the administration's effort as "grossly misguided and exceptionally dangerous."
"This isn't just a denial of science and reality—it's a betrayal of public trust and yet another signal that this administration is working for corporate interests, and no one else."
"Stripping the EPA of its ability to regulate greenhouse gases is like throwing away the fire extinguisher while the house is already burning," she warned. "The administration is shamelessly handing Big Oil a hall pass to pollute unchecked and dodge accountability, leaving working families to bear the costs through worsening health outcomes, rising energy bills, more climate-fueled extreme weather, and an increasingly unstable future. This isn't just a denial of science and reality—it's a betrayal of public trust and yet another signal that this administration is working for corporate interests, and no one else."
Noël was far from alone in accusing the administration's leaders of serving the polluters who helped Trump return to power.
"Zeldin and Trump are concerned only with maximizing short-term profits for polluting corporations and the CEOs funneling millions of dollars to their campaign coffers," said Jim Walsh, policy director at Food & Water Watch. "Zeldin's assertion that the EPA shouldn't address greenhouse gas emissions is like a fire chief claiming that they shouldn't fight fires. It is as malicious as it is absurd."
Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's Safe Climate Transport Campaign, similarly said that the proposal is "purely a political bow to the oil industry" and "Trump is putting fealty to Big Oil over sound science and people's health."
Earthworks policy director Lauren Pagel also called the rule "a perverse gift to the fossil fuel industry that rejects yearslong efforts by the agency, scientists, NGOs, frontline communities, and industry to protect public health and our environment."
"Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin are playing with fire—and with floods and droughts and public health risks, too," she stressed, as about 168 million Americans on Tuesday faced advisories for extreme heat made more likely by the climate crisis.
🚨 The Trump administration just took its most extreme step yet in rolling back climate protections.
[image or embed]
— Sierra Club (@sierraclub.org) July 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Justin Chen, president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents over 8,000 EPA workers nationwide, said that the repeal plan "is reckless and will have far-reaching, disastrous consequences for the USA."
"EPA career professionals have worked for decades on the development of the science and policy of greenhouse gases to protect the American public," he continued, "and this policy decision completely disregards all of their work in service to the public."
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) highlighted that Chris Wright, head of the Department of Energy, joined Zeldin at the Tuesday press conference and "announced a DOE 'climate science study' alongside remarks that were rife with climate denial talking points and disinformation."
UCS president Gretchen Goldman said that "it's abundantly clear what's going on here. The Trump administration refuses to acknowledge robust climate science and is using the kitchen sink approach: making every specious argument it can to avoid complying with the law."
"But getting around the Clean Air Act won't be easy," she added. "The science establishing climate harms to human health was unequivocally clear back in 2009, and more than 15 years later, the evidence has only accumulated."
Today, Zeldin’s EPA plans to release a proposal to revoke the Endangerment Finding, which is the legal & scientific foundation of EPA’s responsibility to limit climate-heating greenhouse gas pollution from major sources.
[image or embed]
— Moms Clean Air Force (@momscleanairforce.org) July 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
David Bookbinder, director of law and policy at the Environmental Integrity Project, was a lead attorney in the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court case Massachusetts vs. EPA, which affirmed the agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act and ultimately led to the endangerment finding two years later.
Bookbinder said Tuesday that "because this approach has already been rejected by the courts—and doubtless will be again—this baseless effort to pretend that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses that cause climate change are not harmful pollutants is nothing more than a transparent attempt to delay and derail our efforts to control greenhouse pollution at the worst possible time, when deadly floods and heat waves are killing more people every day."
In a statement from the Environmental Protection Network, which is made up of ex-EPA staff, Joseph Goffman, former assistant administrator of the agency's Office of Air and Radiation, also cited the 2007 ruling.
"This decision is both legally indefensible and morally bankrupt," Goffman said of the Tuesday proposal. "The Supreme Court made clear that EPA cannot ignore science or evade its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. By walking away from the endangerment finding, EPA has not only broken with precedent; it has broken with reality."
Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of the youth-led Sunrise Movement, responded to the EPA proposal with defiance, declaring that "Donald Trump and his Big Oil donors are lighting the world on fire and fueling their private jets with young people's lives. We refuse to be sacrifices for their greed. We're coming for them, and we're not backing down."
Starmer Ripped for 'Performative and Disingenuous' Threat to Recognize Palestine
Israel has already summarily rejected the U.K. leader's ultimatum to take "substantive" steps to end the war on Gaza by September, agree to a two-state solution, and reject West Bank annexation.
Jul 29, 2025
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer was accused of "political grandstanding" after he said Tuesday that his country would recognize Palestinian statehood if Israel did not take ambiguously defined steps to end its war on Gaza—conditions that were promptly dismissed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Today, as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the U.K. will recognize the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a cease-fire, and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution," Starmer said during a press conference.
"This includes allowing the U.N. to restart the supply of aid and making clear that there will be no annexations in the West Bank," the prime minister continued, adding that "the terrorists of Hamas... must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a cease-fire, disarm, and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza."
Member of Scottish Parliament Scott Greer (Scottish Greens-West Scotland) responded to Tuesday's announcement on social media, saying, "Starmer wouldn't threaten to withdraw U.K. recognition of Israel, but he's made recognition of Palestinian statehood conditional on the actions of their genocidal oppressor?"
"Another profoundly unjust act from a Labour government thoroughly complicit in Israel's crimes," Greer added.
British attorney and activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu asserted that "Keir Starmer knows his time is up and pivots to save his career but it's too late."
"By placing a condition on recognizing Palestine this declaration is performative and disingenuous because before September he can claim Israel has substantively complied with the condition," she added.
Leftist politician and Accountability Archive co-founder Philip Proudfoot argued on social media that "decent" Members of Parliament "need to table a no-confidence motion in Starmer now."
"He has just used the recognition of Palestine as a bargaining chip in exchange for Israel following its BASIC LEGAL OBLIGATIONS," he added. "This is one of the lowest political acts in living memory."
Media critic Sana Saeed said on social media, "Using Palestinian life and future as a bargaining chip and threat to Israel—not a surprise from kid starver Keir Starmer."
Journalist Sangita Myska argued that "rather than threatening the gesture politics of recognizing a Palestinian state (that may never happen)," Starmer should expel Israel's ambassador to the U.K., impose "full trade sanctions" and a "full arms embargo," and end alleged Royal Air Force surveillance flights over Gaza.
Political analyst Bushra Shaikh accused Starmer of "political grandstanding" and "speaking from both sides of his mouth."
Starmer's announcement followed a Monday meeting in Turnberry, Scotland with U.S. President Donald Trump, who signaled that he would not object to U.K. recognition of Palestine.
However, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called Starmer's announcement "a slap in the face for the victims of October 7," a reference to the Hamas-led attack of 2023.
While the United States remains Israel's staunchest supporter and enabler—providing billions of dollars in annual armed aid and diplomatic cover—Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee have all expressed concerns over mounting starvation deaths in Gaza.
On Tuesday, the U.N.-affiliated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned that a "worst-case" famine scenario is developing in Gaza, where health officials say at least 147 Palestinians, including at least 88 children, have died from malnutrition since Israel launched its obliteration and siege of the enclave following the October 2023 attack.
Israel—which imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza following that attack—has severely limited the amount of humanitarian aid that can enter the strip. According to U.N. officials, Israel Defense Forces troops have killed more than 1,000 aid-seeking civilians at distribution points run by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. IDF troops have said they were ordered to shoot live bullets and artillery shells at aid seekers.
Netanyahu—who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza including murder and weaponized starvation—responded to the U.K. prime minister's ultimatum in a social media post stating, "Starmer rewards Hamas' monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims."
"A jihadist state on Israel's border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW," Netanyahu said. "Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen."
The U.K. played a critical role in the foundation of the modern state of Israel, allowing Jewish colonization of what was then the British Mandate of Palestine under condition that "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine," who made up more than 90% of the population.
Seeing that Jewish immigrants returning to their ancestral homeland were usurping the indigenous Arabs of Palestine, the British subsequently prohibited further Zionist colonization. This sparked a nearly decadelong wave of terrorism and other attacks against the British occupiers that ultimately resulted in the U.K. abandoning Palestine and the establishment of Israel under the authority of the United Nations—an outcome achieved by the ethnic cleansing of more than 750,000 Palestinian Arabs.
On the topic of annexing the West Bank, earlier this month, all 15 Israeli government ministers representing Netanyahu's Likud party recommended the move, citing support from Trump. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) found last year that Israel's occupation of Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza, is an illegal form of apartheid.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would announce its formal recognition of Palestinian statehood during September's U.N. General Assembly in New York. France is set to become the first Group of Seven nation to recognize Palestine, which is currently officially acknowledged by approximately 150 of the 193 U.N. member states.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz subsequently threatened "severe consequences" for nations that recognize Palestine.
Starmer's announcement came on the same day that the Gaza Health Ministry said that the death toll from Israel's 662-day assault and siege on Gaza—which is the subject of a South Africa-led genocide case at the ICJ—topped 60,000. However, multiple peer-reviewed studies in the prestigious British medical journal The Lancet have concluded that Gaza officials' casualty tallies are likely significant undercounts.
Most Popular
We cover the issues the corporate media never will.
Please support our journalism.