Since October 7th, 2023, the President of Israel has made clear his genocidal intentions to kill and remove as many Palestinians as possible. While Israel prepares to invade Rafah and the US has approved an aid package of $17bn to the occupation state, the humanitarian crisis has worsened: 

• 34,305 people have been killed in Gaza, including more than 14,500 children and 8,400 women. 
• 77,293 people are reported injured while 8,000 remain missing. 
• In the Occupied West Bank at least 489 people, including 124 children, have been killed and more than 4,800 injured. 
• More than 50% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged.
• 90% of schools have been damaged, including the destruction of  all universities in Gaza.
• 11 of 35 hospitals are  partially functioning.
• Mass graves of more than 300 bodies at the Nasser and al-Shifa Hospitals have been uncovered.
• A categorical famine is impending in the following weeks.

     This petition is in response to a recent visit by The Bureau of the United Nations Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to Trinidad and Tobago, calling on the government of our twin island nation to recognise and fully establish diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine. It is imperative for the government of Trinidad and Tobago to heed the UN's call, recognise and establish diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine. Recognising the State of Palestine aligns with our values of cultural and religious tolerance, as well as, would demonstrate the nation’s unwavering solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine. Furthermore, in 2022 the Israeli occupation exported US$3.44M worth of goods to Trinidad and Tobago. Given the precedent set by Latin American countries severing diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, it is only fitting for CARICOM nations such as Trinidad follow suit in solidarity with Palestine's pursuit of freedom, justice and sovereignty. 

     If you agree that the government of Trinidad and Tobago, namely the Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr. Amery Browne and the Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, should officially recognise the State of Palestine and denounce diplomatic and economics ties with the occupation state of Israel, please sign and share this petition.