Palestine Crackdown, Afghan Refugees, Trump’s Venezuela Gamble, and More

Hello, everyone.

In October 2023, when Israel launched its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, solidarity protests erupted across the United States and much of the world. In the two years since, as Katy Fallon reports, Washington and many European countries have initiated harsh crackdowns on Palestine solidarity activists, with many governments turning to deportations as a punitive measure.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has escalated its pressure campaign on Venezuela, even carrying out a recent pair of attacks on boats Washington claims were Caracas-linked drug vessels. In a new op-ed, Lee Schlenker breaks down all the ways that military action against Venezuela is likely to backfire.

Plus, a new season of Inkstick’s Things That Go Boom podcast launches today. Be sure to check out the first episode here.

That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.

“From the US to the EU, a Global Crackdown on Palestine Solidarity” by Katy Fallon (Sept. 15)

From the United States to the UK, and from Germany to Greece, a years-long crackdown on Palestine solidarity movements is now intensifying at a time when Israel’s ongoing war on the besieged Gaza Strip nears the two-year mark.

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“Coming Soon: MIC Drop” by Things That Go Boom (Sept. 15)

We’re watching — in DC, LA, Chicago — what happens when the military comes to town. But the new season of the Things That Go Boom podcast will also dive deep into the military that’s been there all along.

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“Trump’s Venezuela Gamble Could Devastate Regional Security” by Lee Schenkler (Sept. 16)

The Trump administration’s brazen and potentially illegal strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in international waters off the coast of Venezuela this month, reportedly killing at least 14, represent a major escalation in Washington’s military posture toward the Western Hemisphere.

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“Afghan Refugees Face Deportation in Pakistan” by Lital Khaikin (Sept. 17)

Around 3.2 million people are internally displaced in Afghanistan. Without formal refugee camps, people go to the outskirts of cities, setting up informal settlements in parks and sheltering in abandoned buildings Adding to that pressure is Pakistan’s drive to deport more Afghans.

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“The Quiet Displacement and Disappearance of Colombia’s Children” by Lisa Munro (Sept. 18)

In Colombia, the same forces that shape insecurity also drive the displacements and inequities that feed guerrilla recruitment of minors, drug trafficking crimes committed by children, and international adoption pipelines.

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“Deep Dive: The US Tech Behind Pakistani Digital Surveillance” by Inkstick (Sept. 19)

Amnesty International has published a new report that found US tech companies were among those that supplied Pakistan with critical technology now used for widespread censorship and surveillance.

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