In Gaza, war crime proceedings convened by locals in Philadelphia
Ready to shake things up, homie? Here's the scoop on the latestPhilly event!
On Saturday, May 31, 2025, a massive gathering—in both the flesh and the digital realm—took place in Philly's city center. It was the Philadelphia People's Tribunal on war crimes and genocide in Gaza. This ain't your average talking shop, either; they're going for the U.S. government's jugular!
The event, which happened IRL at The Friends Center, was backed by some heavy hitters: Fridays at Fetterman's, a grassroots advocacy group that's been protesting for Gaza since December 2023, the American Friends Service Committee, and Friends of Sabeel North America, two international peacemaking organizations.
Senator John Fetterman did his usual silence gig on the request for comment, but that didn't stop the vigilantes! They want the U.S. government held accountable for supporting Israeli actions in Gaza, as they believe it amounts to genocide.
Let me tell ya, it hasn't been pretty down there. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, over 54,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since October 7, 2023, when Hamas—yeah, the butter-thieves of the Middle East—killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages during an attack on Israel. If you're counting kids, nearly 15,000 of those Palestinians were innocent observers, y'know, the ones who deserve to grow up without getting iced by Israeli bombardments.
The tribunal had eye-opening testimonials from Palestinians on the ground in Gaza, as well as human rights attorneys and aid workers. And it wasn't all feel-good vibes; the facts about Gaza's humanitarian crisis were raw and grim. People cried out, "This isn't about numbers, this is about people!"
Local officials showed up for the action, with State Rep. Chris Rabb representing the political world and Sam Kuttab, a longtime Philly resident with Palestinian roots, sharing his thoughts. Kuttab's worried that backing Israel's actions sends a bad message to the world and to American citizens, particularly considering the thousands of Palestinian civilians trapped in the crossfire.
Kuttab isn't alone in his worries, mate. Civil society groups across the nation have been protesting Israel's actions, and they're not about to back down. They're calling on local and elected officials to stand up for what's right—for a negotiated peace that benefits everyone in the region.
So, make sure you're signed up to Fridays at Fetterman's peace vigil, and stay tuned for the jury's findings on June 13th! They're going to put the evidence on the record, bring attention to the global community's complicity in Israel's actions in Gaza, and educate everyday citizens to demand change from their government officials. Keep your eyes on the prize, my friend, because this ain't over yet!
Politics and general news will cover the ongoing tribunal in Philadelphia, focusing on war-and-conflicts in Gaza. The event, held on May 31, 2025, aims to hold the U.S. government accountable for supporting Israeli actions that many consider genocide. Crime-and-justice may also be involved as vigilantes and civil society groups call for accountability and negotiated peace in the region.
