Protesters gather outside the Israeli parliament demanding a ceasefire deal with Hamas and early elections following the government's security failure in the October Hamas-led attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government faces criticism over the handling of the situation. The war on Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with a truce in November leading to the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Talks on a new ceasefire and captive exchange were set to begin in Cairo. Demonstrators express frustration with Netanyahu's leadership and vow to continue the protest.
A protest at the University of California, Berkeley, against an event organized by Jewish students led to the evacuation of attendees and Israeli speaker Ran Bar-Yoshafat for their safety. Demonstrators broke doors, chanted against Israel, and accused Bar-Yoshafat of genocide. The protest, organized by Bears for Palestine, disrupted the event 'Israel at War: Combat the Lies' and forced attendees to evacuate. The protest reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, with support for Hamas expressed by the protesters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces Israel's return to cease-fire negotiations with Hamas after previous failed attempts. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been involved in mediation efforts, but no agreement has been reached. Netanyahu rejects Hamas' demands for a hostage release and vows to continue military operations until the militant group is destroyed. The conflict in Gaza escalates with Israeli airstrikes and casualties, leading to concerns about humanitarian crises and international calls for aid access. Tensions in the West Bank rise, and discussions about potential military operations in Gaza intensify between Israel and the United States.
Israeli forces bombed a tent camp inside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital compound in central Gaza, killing two Palestinians in what seemed to be a targeted strike. Palestinians were seen carrying wounded individuals after the attack, with an aircraft later airdropping humanitarian aid over northern Gaza. In response, protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas occurred in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Hamas presented a ceasefire proposal to mediators and the US, suggesting the release of Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly, in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office deemed the proposal's demands unrealistic. Egypt and Qatar are mediating to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas as Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis. Egyptian President Sisi aims for a ceasefire, increased aid to Gaza, and relocation of displaced Palestinians within the enclave. Concerns arise over a potential Israeli assault on Rafah, where many displaced individuals are residing.
Israel and Hamas are making progress towards a deal that aims to bring about a cease-fire and free the hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Talks are ongoing in Cairo, Egypt, despite Israel's intensified offensive in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. The deal would provide a much-needed respite from the war for people in Gaza and offer freedom for some of the captives. Efforts mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt have been hindered by the differing positions of Hamas and Israel. The war has caused significant destruction in the Gaza Strip, with thousands killed and displaced.
A Hamas delegation has left talks in Cairo without a ceasefire deal for Gaza, but negotiations with Israel continue despite hurdles. The truce, initially hoped for before Ramadan, has not materialized. International pressure is mounting amid fears of famine in Gaza. Key demands include the release of hostages and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes. The war in Gaza began with Hamas incursions into southern Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. Efforts to stop the aggression and provide relief aid are ongoing, with next week set for resumed negotiations in Cairo.
Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israeli protesters clashed in London with insults and chants, including controversial slogans like 'From the River to the Sea'. The atmosphere was tense with mutual animosity, but only a minor scuffle occurred. Pro-Israeli counter-protesters felt outnumbered and expressed fear due to perceived threats. The two sides, ideologically distant, were physically close for the first time during the ongoing protests in London. The tensions reflect the deep divide between the two groups.
Israel is holding off on sending a delegation for Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo until it sees more willingness from Hamas to soften its stance on releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. Previous negotiations involving the US, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt ended without a breakthrough. More than 200 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas in a surprise attack in 2023, leading to retaliatory actions resulting in the deaths of over 29,000 Palestinians. A previous hostage-for-prisoner swap occurred under a fragile truce in November.
Hamas has backed off key demands, bringing negotiations closer to a deal for a truce in Gaza. The initial agreement could halt the fighting, with Hamas reducing its requirements for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Talks in Paris and Doha aim to reach a truce, exchange prisoners, and release hostages. Egypt, Qatar, US, and Israel are involved. The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, with mediation attempts for temporary ceasefires ongoing.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed concerns about the rise of mob rule amidst protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict, urging for urgent change and crackdown on intimidatory behavior. Amnesty International criticized Sunak's remarks as alarmist, stating that talk of mob rule exaggerates the issue and risks delegitimizing peaceful protest rights. Protesters have gathered in London calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, with tensions escalating and concerns over safety for lawmakers. The U.K. government has implemented stricter measures against protests, raising debates on freedom of expression and assembly rights.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks to take place in Doha and Cairo amidst stalled negotiations following a UN Security Council resolution for an immediate ceasefire. The war between Hamas and Israel, initiated by Hamas' attack on Israel resulting in casualties on both sides, continues with little progress in negotiations. Meanwhile, tensions rise as the U.S. expresses concerns over Israel's plans to invade Rafah and the situation escalates at the Gaza-Egypt border crossing and in the diplomatic efforts to prevent full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London a day after the UK joined the US in attacking Houthi bases in Yemen. The Iran-backed rebel group, which supports Hamas, has been targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The protesters want Israel to stop its military operations in Gaza, following Hamas attacks in Israel. Six arrests were made during the protest, and a significant police presence of about 1,700 officers was planned. The Palestinian ambassador to the UK accused the British government of complicity with Israel.
CAIRO, March 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza have died from Israeli attacks as of Thursday amid worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. "About one in every 20 children, women and men, are now dead or wounded," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Thursday, referring to the bloodshed in Gaza as "carnage." "The war in Gaza must end. Clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law, have been committed by all parties," he said during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Over the nearly five months since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct.
Families and friends of 134 Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas gunmen at the Nova festival site in southern Israel started a march to Jerusalem demanding government action. Talks of a ceasefire have raised hopes with a potential deal involving the release of hostages, Palestinian prisoners, and easing of tensions in Gaza.
Truce talks between Israel and Hamas are set to resume in Cairo on Sunday after negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt for a six-week suspension of Israel's offensive in exchange for the release of 40 hostages were disrupted by Hamas' demands. Israel ruled out ending the fighting or withdrawing forces from Gaza and recalled negotiators from Qatar. Recent events include Israeli troops shooting dead two Palestinians on a Gaza beach, a ship convoy delivering 400 tonnes of food to Gaza, and ongoing protests in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On 7 October 2023, a large escalation of the Gaza–Israel conflict began with a coordinated offensive by multiple Palestinian militant groups against Israel. A number of countries, including many of Israel's Western allies, such as the United States and a number of European countries, condemned the attacks by Hamas, expressed solidarity for Israel and stated that Israel has a right to defend itself from armed attacks, while countries of the Muslim world (including the Axis of Resistance) have expressed support for the Palestinians, blaming the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as being the root cause for the escalation of violence. The events prompted several world leaders to announce their intention to visit Israel, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.Numerous countries called for a ceasefire and de-escalation. International organizations, student organizations, charities, ecumenical Christian organizations, and Jewish and Islamic groups commented on the situation. On 27 October 2023, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate and sustained humanitarian truce and cessation of hostilities, adopted by a vote of 121 states to 14, with 44 abstentions. As of 6 November 2023, Bolivia has severed diplomatic relations with Israel, while Bahrain, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, South Africa and Turkey have recalled their ambassadors from Israel, citing Israeli actions during the war.
Hamas has claimed that a ceasefire in Gaza is possible 'within 24 to 48 hours' if Israel accepts its demands, as negotiators are set to meet in Cairo today in the hope they can thrash out a new truce deal. A delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas' deputy leader in Gaza, has arrived in Cairo as negotiations are set to resume there today, according to a senior official. The list of demands the group wants met include 'the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid,' an official said. Hopes for a fresh ceasefire have been reignited after a US administration official said last night that there is 'a deal on the table' which Israel has 'more or less accepted'. 'It will be a six-week ceasefire in Gaza starting today if Hamas agrees to release the defined category of vulnerable hostages, the sick, the wounded, elderly and women,' the Washington official said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel's military is preparing to launch an attack on Rafah, a city in Gaza, as truce negotiations are ongoing in Egypt. Netanyahu approved a ground attack plan earlier in March, with the aim to evacuate the population before targeting Hamas battalions in Rafah. The UN and various countries have cautioned against the catastrophic consequences for civilians. Israeli forces have also continued raids in northern Gaza, targeting locations like the Al-Shifa Hospital. Meanwhile, negotiations in Cairo persist amidst ongoing heavy Israeli strikes in the Palestinian enclave.
Israeli media commentators sharply criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for strained relations with US President Joe Biden, leading to a rare US abstention in a UN Security Council vote on a ceasefire resolution. Netanyahu's handling of the situation is described as delusional, putting Israel's future and strategic alliance with the US at risk. Calls for Netanyahu's resignation intensify amid concerns over the impact on Israel's international relations and US arms transfers. Biden's shift in stance is attributed to disagreements over Gaza, new settlements, and managing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ramadan has started with tension and resentment for Palestinian Muslims due to the war in Gaza, with scuffles and restrictions on worshippers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise of freedom of worship was opposed by far-right extremist national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Palestinian men were turned away from prayers, leading to a somber mood in the region. Business owners in Jerusalem's Old City report closures and lack of tourists, with shopkeeper Muhammed Salhab expressing despair over the unprecedented situation.
The Gaza–Israel conflict is a localized part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict beginning in 1948, when 200,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes, settling in the Gaza Strip as refugees. Since then, Israel has fought 15 wars against the Gaza Strip. The number of Gazans killed in the most recent 2023 war — 27,000 — is higher than the death toll of all other wars of the Arab-Israeli conflict.Israel fought four wars against the Egyptian-administered Gaza Strip: 1948 Palestine War, border attacks of 1949–1956, first occupation of Gaza during the Suez Crisis and the capture of Gaza in 1967. During the first occupation, 1% of Gaza Strip's population was either killed, tortured or imprisoned by Israel. Following two periods of low-level insurgencies, a major conflict between Israelis and Palestinians erupted in the First Intifada (523 Gazans killed). The 1993 Oslo Accords brought a period of calm. But, in 2000 the Second Intifada erupted. Towards the end of the Second Intifada, Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005, Hamas won the 2006 election and seized control of Gaza in 2007.In 2007, Israel imposed a land, air and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, turning it into an "open-air prison". The blockade was widely condemned as a form of collective punishment, while Israel defended it as necessary to stop Palestinian rocket attacks. Hamas considered it a declaration of war. A 2008–2009 Israeli invasion of Gaza resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and widespread destruction of homes, schools and hospitals. A 2012 Israeli operation also killed more than 100 people.In 2014, Israel invaded Gaza in a major war that resulted in the deaths of 73 Israelis (mostly soldiers) and 2,251 Palestinians (mostly civilians). The invasion resulted in "unprecedented" destruction, damaging 25% of homes in Gaza city and 70% of homes in Beit Hanoun. After 2014, notable events in the conflict included the "Great March of Return" (2018-2019) and clashes in November 2018, May 2019 and November 2019. The 2021 crisis saw 256 Palestinians and 15 Israelis killed.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people (mostly civilians). Israel responded with bombing Gaza Strip and launching an invasion that has killed more than 29,000 Gazans as of February 2024.
Hamas, an acronym of its official name, Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Arabic: حركة المقاومة الإسلامية, romanized: Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, lit. 'Islamic Resistance Movement'), is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military movement governing parts of the occupied Gaza Strip.Hamas was founded by Palestinian imam and activist Ahmed Yassin in 1987, after the outbreak of the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation. It emerged from his 1973 Mujama al-Islamiya Islamic charity affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative election by campaigning on Palestinian armed resistance against the Israeli occupation, thus securing a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Fatah, which it has governed since separately from the Palestinian National Authority. This was followed by an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip with Egyptian support, and multiple wars with Israel, including in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, and 2021. The ongoing 2023 war began after Hamas launched an attack, killing both civilians and soldiers, and taking hostages back to Gaza. The attack has been described as the biggest military setback for Israel since the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, which Israel has responded to in an ongoing ground invasion of Gaza.Hamas promotes Palestinian nationalism in an Islamic context. While initially seeking a state in all of Mandatory Palestine, Hamas began acquiescing to 1967 borders in the agreements it signed with Fatah in 2005, 2006 and 2007 In 2017, Hamas released a new charter that supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders without recognizing Israel. Hamas's repeated offers of a truce (for a period of 10–100 years) based on the 1967 borders are seen by many as consistent with a two-state solution, while others say that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine. The 1988 Hamas charter was widely described as antisemitic. The revised 2017 Hamas Charter stated that Hamas's struggle was with Zionists, not Jews. Hamas is widely popular in Palestinian society largely due to its anti-Israeli stance.Hamas has carried out attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians, including suicide bombings and indiscriminate rocket attacks. These actions have led human rights groups to accuse it of war crimes, and Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. In 2018, a motion at the United Nations to condemn Hamas was rejected.
The turmoil of the Israel-Hamas war is causing political and public tensions as close US allies grapple with the limits of free speech. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fired interior minister Suella Braverman after she accused police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Former Prime Minister David Cameron has been appointed as foreign secretary to lead Britains response to the war. The crisis in the Middle East is felt in London, Paris, and Berlin, where Europe is struggling to balance fears of rising antisemitism and the rights of protesters.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israel to halt plans for a major ground offensive in southern Gaza to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and protect Palestinian civilians. Tensions have risen between the US and Israel over differing approaches to the conflict with Hamas, with the Biden administration emphasizing the importance of civilian safety and seeking alternative strategies to address the threat. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to cancel a high-level delegation visit in protest of a UN Security Council resolution has further strained relations. Discussions focus on finding solutions other than a ground invasion of Rafah.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008 and are part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They are considered to be the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.The Hamas offensive involved 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack was proclaimed as a response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the prospect of Arab–Israeli normalization, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its existing blockade of Gaza and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October. Israeli forces laid siege to Gaza City on 2 November and moved south to attack Khan Yunis a month later on 3 December; both sieges remain ongoing. Israel's next objective is the capture of Rafah. An estimated 6,000-12,000 militants have been killed during the conflict, and Israel has lost over 200 soldiers during its invasion. A United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian pause passed on 15 November; the seven-day truce took effect at the end of that month.A humanitarian crisis has developed in the Gaza Strip, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and potential famine conditions. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict, including over 12,300 children and 8,400 women. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. In February 2024 576,000 people were "facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation", stated The United Nations. More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that opened fire when huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.The war has had significant international repercussions. Popular protests that primarily call for a ceasefire have occurred across the world. Israel's actions have been denounced by the Islamic world and much of the Global South; South Africa launched an International Court of Justice case alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has however received significant support from its traditional Western allies, especially the United States, which vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. In response, Iran-backed militias have attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement attacked commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel, incurring a military response from a number of countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on a plan to evacuate and destroy Hamas battalions in Gaza's Rafah despite warnings from world leaders like US President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. Netanyahu argued that refraining from the operation would mean losing the war but faced domestic and international pressure to reconsider. Talks to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have been challenging, with Hamas insisting on complete cessation of hostilities and other demands. Israel remains determined to proceed with the offensive, disregarding growing international pressure.
Israelis in Jerusalem, particularly at the Machane Yehuda food market, expressed disappointment with Senator Schumer's comments on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war and his suggestion for new elections, stating that it is not Schumer's place to interfere in Israel's politics. They believe President Biden is turning on Israel for his own political interests before the U.S. national elections. Netanyahu criticized Schumer's comments as inappropriate. Israelis emphasized their ability to handle their own politics and affirmed their democratic values.
The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Arabic: ميثاق حركة المقاومة الإسلامية حماس), referred to as the Hamas Covenant or Hamas Charter, was issued by Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) on 18 August 1988 and outlines the organization's founding identity, positions, and aims. In 2017, Hamas unveiled a revised charter, without explicitly revoking the 1988 charter.The original Charter identified Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine and described its members to be god-fearing Muslims raising the banner of Jihad (armed struggle) in "the face of the oppressors." The charter defines the struggle to be against the Jews and calls for the eventual creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in all of former Mandatory Palestine, and the obliteration or dissolution of Israel. The charter has been criticized for it use of antisemitic language, which some commentators have characterized as incitement to genocide. Hamas's 2017 charter removed the antisemitic language and clarified Hamas's struggle was with Zionists, not Jews.Since choosing to run candidates for office in elections, Hamas has downplayed the role of its charter. In direct contradiction of the Charter, in 2008 Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated that Hamas would agree to accept a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, and to offer a long-term truce with Israel. In 2010, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal stated that the Charter is "a piece of history and no longer relevant, but cannot be changed for internal reasons". Meshaal also stated that Hamas was ending its association with the Muslim Brotherhood.Unlike the 1988 Charter, the 2017 charter accepted a Palestinian state within the borders that existed before 1967 and maintained Hamas's refusal to recognize the State of Israel, which it terms the "Zionist entity". The 2017 charter refers to an Israeli state within the pre-1967 borders as a transitional state while also advocating for the "liberation of all of Palestine". Views on the 2017 document varied. While some welcomed it as a sign of increased political maturity, an attempt to bridge the gap between moderates and hardliners within Hamas, and a potential step on the way to peace, many others, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed it as a merely cosmetic effort designed to make Hamas sound more palatable while changing nothing about Hamas' underlying aims and methods.
The Gaza Strip ( ; Arabic: قِطَاعُ غَزَّةَ Qiṭāʿ Ġazzah [qɪˈtˤɑːʕ ˈɣaz.za]), or simply Gaza, is a polity and the smaller of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the West Bank). On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Gaza is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north.The territory came into being when it was controlled by Egypt during the 1948 Arab–Israeli war, and became a refuge for Palestinians who fled or were expelled during the 1948 Palestine war. Later, during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured and occupied the Gaza Strip, initiating its decades-long military occupation of the Palestinian territories. The mid-1990s Oslo Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a limited governing authority, initially led by the secular party Fatah until that party's electoral defeat in 2006 to the Sunni Islamic Hamas. Hamas would then take over the governance of Gaza in a battle the next year, subsequently warring with Israel.In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its military forces from Gaza, dismantled its settlements, and implemented a temporary blockade of Gaza. The blockade became indefinite after the 2007 Hamas takeover, supported by Egypt through restrictions on its land border with Gaza. Despite the Israeli disengagement, the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross, and many human-rights organizations continue to consider Gaza to be held under Israeli military occupation, due to what they consider Israel's effective military control over the territory; Israel disputes that it occupies the territory. The land, sea, and air blockade prevents people and goods from freely entering or leaving the territory, leading to Gaza often being called an "open-air prison." The UN, as well as at least 19 human-rights organizations, have urged Israel to lift the blockade. Israel has justified its blockade on the strip with wanting to stop flow of arms, but Palestinians and rights groups say it amounts to collective punishment and exacerbates dire living conditions.The Gaza Strip is 41 kilometres (25 miles) long, from 6 to 12 km (3.7 to 7.5 mi) wide, and has a total area of 365 km2 (141 sq mi). With around 2 million Palestinians on approximately 365 km2 (141 sq mi) of land, Gaza has one of the world's highest population densities. More than 70% of Gaza's population are refugees or descendents of refugees, half of whom are under the age of 18. Sunni Muslims make up most of Gaza's population, with a Palestinian Christian minority. Gaza has an annual population growth rate of 1.99% (2023 est.), the 39th-highest in the world. Gaza's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world, with an overall unemployment rate of 46% and a youth unemployment rate of 70%. The population has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Gaza has throughout the years been seen as a source of Palestinian nationalism and resistance.
Protesters from Extinction Rebellion NYC's Palestinian Solidarity group disrupted a traditional Easter Vigil Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, unfurling a flag with 'SILENCE = DEATH' and chanting 'Free, free Palestine.' Security intervened, removing the protesters as onlookers filmed. The USCCB has called for peace in the Middle East amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Fatah–Hamas conflict (Arabic: النزاع بين فتح وحماس, romanized: an-Nizāʿ bayna Fataḥ wa-Ḥamās) is an ongoing political and strategic conflict between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories, leading to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The reconciliation process and unification of Hamas and Fatah administrations remains unfinalized and the situation is deemed a frozen conflict.The Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights has found that over 600 Palestinians were killed in the fighting from January 2006 to May 2007. Dozens more were killed or executed in the following years as part of the conflict.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, comparing it to the Holocaust and stating that the conflict is between a highly prepared army and women and children. Israel condemned Lula's remarks, calling them Holocaust trivialization. Lula endorsed South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The Brazilian Israelite Confederation criticized Lula's comments. Efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are ongoing in Cairo.
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is an ongoing military and political conflict in the Levant. Beginning in the mid-20th century, it is one of the world's longest-continuing conflicts. Key areas of the conflict include the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, borders, security, water rights, Palestinian freedom of movement, and the Palestinian right of return.The conflict has its origins in the arrival of Jewish immigrants and settlers to Palestine in the late 19th and 20th centuries and the advent of the Zionist movement. The local Arab population opposed Zionism, primarily out of fear of territorial displacement and dispossession. The Zionist movement garnered the support of an imperial power in the 1917 Balfour Declaration issued by Britain, which promised to support the creation of a "Jewish homeland in Palestine". Following World War I, Mandatory Palestine was established, and tensions grew into open sectarian conflict between Jews and Arabs. In 1936, an Arab revolt erupted demanding independence, which the British suppressed.The 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine triggered the 1948 Palestine war, which saw the expulsion and flight of most Palestinian Arabs, the establishment of Israel on most of the Mandate's territory, and the control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by Egypt and Jordan, respectively. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which became known as the Palestinian territories), which is now considered to be the longest military occupation in modern history, and has drawn international condemnation for violating the human rights of the Palestinians.The conflict has claimed many civilian casualties, mostly Palestinian, since its inception. Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, alongside efforts to resolve the broader Arab–Israeli conflict. Progress towards a negotiated solution between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was made with the Oslo Accords of 1993–1995. The majority of recent peace efforts have been centred around the two-state solution, which involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Public support for a two-state solution, which formerly enjoyed support from both Israeli Jews and Palestinians, has dwindled in recent years. Official negotiations are mediated by the Quartet on the Middle East, which consists of the United Nations, the United States, Russia, and the European Union. The Arab League, which has proposed the Arab Peace Initiative, is another important actor, along with Egypt and Jordan. Since 2006, the Palestinian side has been split between Fatah dominating the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas that gained control of the Gaza Strip. Attempts to remedy this have been repeated and continuing. Since 2019, the Israeli side has also been experiencing political crisis. The latest round of peace negotiations began in July 2013 but were suspended in 2014. Since 2006, Hamas and Israel have fought five wars, the most recent of which began in 2023 and is ongoing as of March 2024.
Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians and wounded a third on Gaza's beach after a video surfaced showing the men being fired at despite allegedly waving white flags. The military claimed the men ignored warning shots, and the footage, broadcast by Al Jazeera, highlighted several incidents of Palestinians being killed seemingly posing little threat. The shootings were said to have occurred in central Gaza across different locations, and the army used a bulldozer out of fear of explosives. Palestinian and human rights groups criticize Israeli military for civilian casualties and claim investigations into such incidents rarely lead to indictments.
On 7 October 2023, as part of the Hamas-led attack on Israel at the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 253 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and elderly people. In addition to hostages with only Israeli citizenship, almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships. The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip.As of February 14, 2024, 112 hostages were returned alive to Israel, with 105 being released in a prisoner exchange deal, 4 were released by Hamas unilaterally and 3 hostages were rescued by the IDF. 11 bodies of hostages were repatriated to Israel, with 3 of the hostages killed by friendly fire from the IDF and the bodies of 8 hostages repatriated through military operations. 32 hostages were reportedly killed in Hamas captivity according to Israel. According to unconfirmed Israeli intelligence, at least 20 additional hostages may be deceased, with their bodies being held captive in Gaza. As of February 14, 2024, 134 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip, with 130 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023 and four hostages having been captured earlier.Hamas has offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners. By October 2023, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians (including 170 juveniles) in its prisons. Hamas stated its objective was to secure their release. Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead.On 22 November 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages. The exchange involved hostages from the categories of women and children. As of 30 November 2023, the last day of the ceasefire, 105 civilian hostages had been released, which included 81 people from Israel, 23 Thais and one Filipino. On 12 February 2024, two Argentinian-Israeli civilians were rescued in Operation Golden Hand. As of January 2024, according to Israeli information, Hamas holds 108 hostages alive and 24 bodies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will undergo surgery for a hernia after it was discovered during a routine checkup. Justice Minister Yariv Levin will temporarily fill his role during the procedure. The surgery comes amidst thousands of Israelis rallying for Netanyahu to resign. Additionally, two Palestinians were killed and 15 injured in an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in central Gaza. The strike targeted a Hamas command center, and Israel argues that hospitals in Gaza are used by militants. The Archbishop of Canterbury called for action to help those affected by the conflict, including the children of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Biden spoke amid escalating tensions over the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Netanyahu's ouster, which was criticized by Netanyahu as "wholly inappropriate." Biden expressed concern shared by many Americans. Netanyahu defended Israel's sovereignty and criticized attempts to replace elected leaders during wartime.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has agreed to reschedule a planned meeting with US and Israeli officials to discuss a possible operation in Rafah, confirmed by the White House. The rescheduled meeting, originally canceled by Netanyahu, is considered an urgent priority, following objections to the US abstaining from a UN Security Council vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
On the evening of 27 October 2023, Israel launched a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip, with the stated goals of eliminating and destroying Hamas, a military and political movement which led an attack against Israel earlier in October, and to free hostages taken by Hamas. Following the attack, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its blockade, ordered the evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip, and launched "Operation Swords of Iron".More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli operation, including over 12,500 children and 7,000 women, with another 7,000 people missing and presumed dead under the rubble of destroyed buildings. By mid-December Israel had dropped 29,000 munitions on Gaza, destroying or damaging 70 percent of homes in the Strip. Experts say that the scale and pace of destruction in Gaza is among the most severe in recent history. During the invasion, Israel destroyed at least a third of Gaza's homes and hundreds of cultural landmarks, and desecrated dozens of cemeteries in the strip.A severe humanitarian crisis has developed, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and the UN warning of potential famine. It was widely reported that there is "no safe place in Gaza" as Israel struck areas it had previously told Palestinians to evacuate to. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced and around 250,000–500,000 Israelis were internally displaced, while thousands of Palestinians have been detained by Israel, and Israel has stated it lost 225 additional soldiers in its invasion as of 4 February 2024.As a result of the invasion, South Africa instituted proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging that Israel was guilty of committing a genocide, and requesting that the ICJ render provisional measures of protection.
The Gaza Strip is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as a result of the Israel–Hamas war. The crisis includes both a famine and a healthcare collapse. At the start of the war, Israel implemented a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in significant shortages of fuel, food, medication, water, and essential medical supplies. This siege resulted in a 90% drop in electricity availability, impacting hospital power supplies, sewage plants, and shutting down the desalination plants that provide drinking water. Widespread disease outbreaks have spread across Gaza.Heavy bombardment by Israeli airstrikes caused catastrophic damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, further deepening the crisis. By mid-November, Israel had dropped the equivalent of two nuclear bombs on Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 4,000 children killed in the war's first month. UN Secretary General António Guterres stated Gaza had "become a graveyard for children."Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and a joint statement by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and World Food Programme have warned of a dire humanitarian collapse. On November 8, UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk described the Rafah Crossing as "gates to a living nightmare."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a delegation visit to Washington after the U.S. abstained from vetoing a U.N. resolution calling for a Gaza cease-fire. The resolution did not make the release of hostages a condition for the cease-fire. Netanyahu's government plans to move forward with an invasion of Rafah even without U.S. support, as diplomatic relations between the two countries deteriorate amidst the Gaza conflict. The U.S. decision to abstain was due to the resolution's lack of condemnation of Hamas. President Biden's close relationship with Netanyahu has faced strain as the conflict escalates.
The Israel–Hamas war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched an unprecedented multi-faceted and sustained assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.As of 29 February 2024, over 30,000 people (29,782 Palestinian and 1,410 Israeli) have been killed in the Israel–Hamas war, including 88 journalists (83 Palestinian, 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese) and over 136 UNRWA aid workers.On 7 October 2023, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 764 civilians, were killed, and 248 persons taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Since then, over 29,782 Palestinians (the majority of whom were women and minors) in the Gaza Strip have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties in its reports. The IDF estimated 12,000 Hamas combatants were killed as of 19 February 2024. A further 382 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israel military and settlers. Casualties have also occurred in other parts of Israel, as well as in southern Lebanon, and Syria. Some developments may become known or understood only in retrospect, so this is not an exhaustive list. Events on the ground for which the precise time is known are in Israel Summer Time (UTC+3) until October 29 when Israel Standard Time (UTC+2) resumed.
People across Germany on Saturday joined the country's traditional Easter marches that emerged from last century's peace movement, with marchers this year calling for an end to fighting in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. The marches against nuclear weapons and in favour of peace have been held over Easter for more than 60 years. The main day of action is Saturday, with around 70 events scheduled to take place across the country. In Berlin, some 3,500 people joined this year's Easter March, according to police estimates. More than 1,000 marched for peace in the northern city of Bremen, while several hundred joined demonstrations in Cologne, Duisburg, Saarbrucken, Leipzig and Kassel.
Israel has presented a proposal to dismantle Unrwa, the UN relief agency in Palestinian territories, and transfer its staff to a new agency for large-scale food deliveries in Gaza. The proposal, aimed at addressing looming famine concerns, involves transferring 300 to 400 Unrwa staff initially with vague details on the new agency's management and security. Unrwa, a major humanitarian actor supporting Palestinians since 1950, has been excluded from discussions on its future. The Israeli plan is seen as potentially undermining Unrwa's role in the region and raising concerns about humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has revealed plans for evacuating civilians from unspecified parts of Gaza as the Israeli army prepares for a potential ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah where over 1.5 million people are located.
Gaza ( GAH-zə; Arabic: غَزَّة, romanized: Ġazzah, IPA: [ˈɣazza] ), also called Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Before the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, it was the most populous city in the State of Palestine, with 590,481 in 2017.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BCE, Gaza has been dominated by different peoples and empires throughout its history. The Philistines made it a part of their pentapolis after the ancient Egyptians had ruled it for nearly 350 years. Under the Roman Empire, Gaza experienced relative peace and its Mediterranean port flourished. In 635 CE, it became the first city in the Palestine region to be conquered by the Rashidun army and quickly developed into a centre of Islamic law. However, by the time the Crusader states were established in 1099, Gaza was in ruins. In later centuries, Gaza experienced several hardships—from Mongol raids to severe flooding and locust swarms, reducing it to a village by the 16th century, when it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. During the first half of Ottoman rule, the Ridwan dynasty controlled Gaza and the city went through an age of great commerce and peace. The municipality of Gaza was established in 1893.Gaza fell to British forces during World War I, becoming a part of Mandatory Palestine. As a result of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip territory and several improvements were undertaken in the city. Gaza was occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967, and in 1993, the city was transferred to the newly created Palestinian National Authority. In the months following the 2006 election, an armed conflict broke out between the Palestinian political factions of Fatah and Hamas, resulting in the latter taking power in Gaza. The Gaza Strip was then subject to an Israeli-led, Egyptian-supported blockade. Israel eased the blockade allowing consumer goods in June 2010, and Egypt reopened the Rafah Border Crossing in 2011 to pedestrians.The primary economic activities of Gaza are small-scale industries and agriculture. However, the blockade and recurring conflicts have put the economy under severe pressure. The majority of Gaza's Palestinian inhabitants are Muslim, although there is also a Christian minority. Gaza has a very young population, with roughly 75% under the age of 25. The city is currently administered by a 14-member municipal council.As of March 2024, as part of the Israel–Hamas war, the Israeli army has bombed large portions of the city and surrounding areas of the Northern Gaza Strip, destroying many buildings and infrastructure. Almost all residents have fled or been evacuated to Southern Gaza, or killed as a result. Therefore, previous recorded or estimated population numbers have become outdated.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, advocating for new elections on the Senate floor. Schumer, a lifelong supporter of Israel, expressed concerns that the current government no longer meets the needs of Israel, citing a shift in the global landscape. He highlighted the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a reevaluation of Israel's direction. Schumer's stance has put pressure on Democratic party officials, including President Joe Biden, to reassess their support for Israel.
As of 29 February 2024, over 30,000 people (29,782 Palestinian and 1,410 Israeli) have been killed in the Israel–Hamas war, including 88 journalists (83 Palestinian, 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese) and over 136 UNRWA aid workers.On 7 October 2023, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 764 civilians, were killed, and 248 persons taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Since then, over 29,782 Palestinians (the majority of whom were women and minors) in the Gaza Strip have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties in its reports. The IDF estimated 12,000 Hamas combatants were killed as of 19 February 2024. A further 382 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israel military and settlers. Casualties have also occurred in other parts of Israel, as well as in southern Lebanon, and Syria.
The United States has expressed support for the formation of a new Palestinian autonomy government as a step towards Palestinian political reform, aiming to revitalize the Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has not faced an election in almost two decades, leads the authority, which the U.S. sees as crucial post-war. The new cabinet, headed by U.S.-educated economist Mohammad Mustafa, includes technocrats and Fatah members, with plans to establish stability and deliver reforms.
The United States abstained from vetoing the latest UN Security Council resolution aimed at a ceasefire in Gaza, breaking a streak of previous vetoes. This move is seen as a reflection of President Biden's growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. While Washington downplayed the resolution as non-binding, it has sparked a strong reaction from Netanyahu, emphasizing the strained relations. Advocates are questioning if the Biden administration will leverage its influence to pressure Israel to end abuses in Gaza, as arms transfers to Israel continue despite the shift in stance.
Four UN peacekeepers were injured in a blast near the Lebanon-Israel border, leading to condemnations and ongoing investigations. Aid was sent to Gaza to address widespread hunger, while clashes and protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem demanded action in securing the release of Israeli hostages. The conflict in the region has resulted in numerous casualties, with clashes between Israeli forces and militants escalating. The UN Secretary-General expressed concerns over the clashes, urging all parties to cease hostilities and pursue diplomatic solutions.
A recent Israeli High Court ruling aims to curtail subsidies for ultra-Orthodox men, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to present a plan to address the issue by Monday. The court criticized a system that privileges the ultra-Orthodox at the expense of the country's majority, endangering Netanyahu's political standing.
The Arab–Israeli conflict is the phenomenon involving political tension, military conflicts, and other disputes between various Arab countries and Israel, which escalated during the 20th century. The roots of the Arab–Israeli conflict have been attributed to the support by Arab League member countries for the Palestinians, a fellow League member, in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict; this in turn has been attributed to the simultaneous rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism towards the end of the 19th century, though the two national movements had not clashed until the 1920s.Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict arose from the conflicting claims by these movements to the land that formed the British Mandatory Palestine, which was regarded by the Jewish people as their ancestral homeland, while at the same time it was regarded by the Pan-Arab movement as historically and currently belonging to the Arab Palestinians, and in the Pan-Islamic context, as Muslim lands. The sectarian conflict within the British Mandate territory between Palestinian Jews and Arabs escalated into a full-scale Palestinian civil war in 1947. Taking the side of the Palestinian Arabs, especially following the Israeli Declaration of Independence, the neighbouring Arab countries invaded the by-then former Mandate territory in May 1948, commencing the First Arab–Israeli War. Large-scale hostilities mostly ended with ceasefire agreements after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Peace agreements were signed between Israel and Egypt in 1979, resulting in Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and the abolition of the military governance system in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in favor of Israeli Civil Administration and consequent unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem.The nature of the conflict has shifted over the years from the large-scale, regional Arab–Israeli conflict to a more local Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which peaked during the 1982 Lebanon War when Israel intervened in the Lebanese Civil War to oust the Palestinian Liberation Organization from Lebanon. With the decline of the 1987–1993 First Intifada, the interim Oslo Accords led to the creation of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, within the context of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. The same year, Israel and Jordan reached a peace accord. In 2002, the Arab League offered recognition of Israel by Arab countries as part of the resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in the Arab Peace Initiative. The initiative, which has been reconfirmed since, calls for normalizing relations between the Arab League and Israel, in exchange for a full withdrawal by Israel from the occupied territories (including East Jerusalem) and a "just settlement" of the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN Resolution 194. In the 1990s and early 2000s, a ceasefire had been largely maintained between Israel and Syria, while limited warfare continued in Lebanon against Iranian proxy militias. Despite the peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, the interim peace accords with the Palestinian Authority and the generally existing ceasefire, until the mid-2010s the Arab League and Israel had remained at odds with each other over many issues. Among Arab belligerents in the conflict, Iraq and Syria are the only states who have reached no formal peace accord or treaty with Israel, with both supporting Iran.The Syrian civil war reshuffled the situation near Israel's northern border, putting the Syrian Arab Republic, Hezbollah and the Syrian opposition at odds with each other and complicating their relations with Israel, upon the emerging warfare with Iran. The conflict between Israel and Hamas-ruled Gaza, is also attributed to the Iran–Israel proxy conflict. By 2017, Israel and several Arab Sunni states led by Saudi Arabia formed a semi-official coalition to confront Iran. This move and the Israeli normalization with Gulf states was marked by some as the fading of the Arab–Israeli conflict.
President Biden expressed concern over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the conflict in Gaza, stating that he believes Netanyahu is hurting Israel more than helping. Biden emphasized the need for attention to innocent lives lost and warned of potential red lines that Israel should not cross. Despite his criticism, Biden reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel and highlighted efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid and negotiate a ceasefire in the region.
President Biden surprised CNN's Jake Tapper by announcing a possible cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war while eating ice cream, expressing hope for it to start by the end of the weekend. Negotiators aim for a pause before Ramadan in early March. Israel and Hamas are nearing a deal to release hostages and implement a six-week cease-fire, facilitated by Egypt, the U.S., and Qatar. Talks are ongoing with discussions on prisoner releases, aid deliveries, and Israel's security control in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity has surged in the polls following criticism from the Biden administration and Democrats, including remarks from New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer calling for new elections. Polls suggest Netanyahu could gain additional parliamentary seats, potentially forming a new government. Mideast expert Caroline Glick notes that criticism from Schumer and the White House may inadvertently strengthen Netanyahu politically.
A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration, or remonstrance) is a public expression of objection, disapproval, or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one. Protests can be thought of as acts of cooperation in which numerous people cooperate by attending, and share the potential costs and risks of doing so. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass political demonstrations. Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or they may undertake direct action in an attempt to enact desired changes themselves. When protests are part of a systematic and peaceful nonviolent campaign to achieve a particular objective, and involve the use of pressure as well as persuasion, they go beyond mere protest and may be better described as civil resistance or nonviolent resistance.Various forms of self-expression and protest are sometimes restricted by governmental policy (such as the requirement of protest permits), economic circumstances, religious orthodoxy, social structures, or media monopoly. One state reaction to protests is the use of riot police. Observers have noted an increased militarization of protest policing in many countries, with police deploying armored vehicles and snipers against protesters. When such restrictions occur, protests may assume the form of open civil disobedience, more subtle forms of resistance against the restrictions, or may spill over into other areas such as culture and emigration.A protest itself may at times be the subject of a counter-protest. In such cases, counter-protesters demonstrate their support for the person, policy, action, etc. that is the subject of the original protest. Protesters and counter-protesters can sometimes violently clash. One study found that nonviolent activism during the civil rights movement in the United States tended to produce favorable media coverage and changes in public opinion focusing on the issues organizers were raising, but violent protests tended to generate unfavorable media coverage that generated public desire to restore law and order.
Despite the raging conflict in the war-torn region, about 100 Palestinian Christians attended Easter services at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and a small group gathered at the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem. This year's services were significantly smaller due to the ongoing battles between Hamas and Israeli forces. In Gaza City, the Holy Family Church is near the site of recent fighting between Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. The dwindling Christian community in Gaza faces challenges including holding Easter services without electricity due to Israel's siege of the enclave.
The Gaza War, also known as Operation Cast Lead (Hebrew: מִבְצָע עוֹפֶרֶת יְצוּקָה), also known as the Gaza Massacre (Arabic: مجزرة غزة), and referred to as the Battle of al-Furqan (معركة الفرقان) by Hamas, was a three-week armed conflict between Gaza Strip Palestinian paramilitary groups and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that began on 27 December 2008 and ended on 18 January 2009 with a unilateral ceasefire. The conflict resulted in 1,166–1,417 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths. Over 46,000 homes were destroyed in Gaza, making more than 100,000 people homeless.A six month long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended on 4 November, when the IDF made a raid into Deir al-Balah, central Gaza to destroy a tunnel, killing several Hamas militants. Israel said the raid was a preemptive strike and Hamas intended to abduct further Israeli soldiers, while Hamas characterized it as a ceasefire violation, and responded with rocket fire into Israel. Attempts to renew a truce between Israel and Hamas were unsuccessful. On December 27, Israel began Operation Cast Lead with the stated aim of stopping rocket fire. In the initial air assault, Israel attacked police stations, military targets including weapons caches and suspected rocket firing teams, as well as political and administrative institutions, striking in the densely populated cities of Gaza, Khan Yunis and Rafah. After hostilities broke out, Palestinian groups fired rockets in retaliation for the aerial bombardments and attacks. The international community considers indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian structures that do not discriminate between civilians and military targets as illegal under international law.An Israeli ground invasion began on 3 January. On 5 January, the IDF began operating in the densely populated urban centers of Gaza. During the last week of the offensive (from 12 January), Israel mostly hit targets it had damaged before and struck Palestinian rocket-launching units. Hamas intensified its rocket and mortar attacks against mostly civilian targets in southern Israel, reaching the major cities of Beersheba and Ashdod for the first time during the conflict. Israeli politicians ultimately decided against striking deeper within Gaza amid concerns of higher casualties on both sides and rising international criticism. The conflict ended on 18 January, when the IDF first declared a unilateral ceasefire, followed by Hamas' announcing a one-week ceasefire twelve hours later. The IDF completed its withdrawal on 21 January.In September 2009, a UN special mission, headed by the South African Justice Richard Goldstone, produced a report accusing both Palestinian militants and the Israeli army of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, and recommended bringing those responsible to justice. In 2011, Goldstone wrote that he does not believe that Israel intentionally targeted civilians in Gaza as a matter of explicit policy. The other authors of the report, Hina Jilani, Christine Chinkin, and Desmond Travers, stated that no new evidence had been gathered that disputed the report's findings. The United Nations Human Rights Council ordered Israel to conduct various repairs of the damages. On 21 September 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded that 75% of civilian homes destroyed in the attack were not rebuilt.
A U.S. intelligence assessment raises concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership, citing a lack of confidence exacerbated by recent events. The report suggests a possible shift to a more moderate government in Israel and predicts increased international pressure due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Critics view the report as an attempt to influence Israeli voters, with accusations of foreign interference in Israeli democracy.
Protesters in Bratislava formed a human chain around Slovakia's public television and radio building to oppose a government plan led by populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to take control of broadcasters. Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova's draft takeover plan, criticized by President Zuzana Caputova and others, aims to replace the current public media organization with a new council appointed by the government. Critics view this as a threat to media freedom, sparking multiple protests against Fico's policies and concerns of Slovakia aligning with Hungary's direction under Viktor Orban.
The father of Shani Louk, a woman killed by Hamas during their attacks on Israel, defended a photojournalism award given to a freelancer who captured her dead body. The image, which displayed Louk's body in a Hamas truck, sparked backlash but was supported by her father, Nissim Louk. The photo won the Reynolds Journalism Institute's Team Picture Story of the Year, leading to debates on journalistic ethics and the portrayal of violence in media. Amid criticisms, Nissim Louk expressed that the image memorializes his daughter's tragedy and historical significance.
Israel's Supreme Court has ruled to dismantle a system that privileges ultra-Orthodox men with exemptions from military service, leading to resentment among the broader public amid ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has until Monday to present a new plan following the court's decision. The ruling, which deems the current system discriminatory, has raised concerns about the viability of Netanyahu's coalition government. The court's interim order will freeze government funding for religious students of enlistment age who do not have army deferrals.
During the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israeli women and girls were reportedly raped, assaulted and mutilated by Hamas militants. Hamas is accused of having committing acts of gender-based violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity in keeping with the recognition of The International Criminal Court (ICC) that sexual violence is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Hamas has denied that its fighters committed rape and assault against women.It was reported that some released hostages' testimonies indicated that both female and male hostages had been subjected to sexual violence by their captors while being held by Hamas in Gaza.UN Women condemned the acts of rape by Hamas in early December 2023 and the International Criminal Court court is scheduled to initiate a specific probe into sexual violence.
The Biden administration has approved a weapons package for Israel, including over 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, amidst concerns over a potential military operation in southern Gaza. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. stated that Israel has not received all requested military arms. The decision has sparked criticism and calls for aid conditions. President Biden faces protests over U.S. support for Israel despite acknowledging Arab Americans' pain. The U.S. authorized billions worth of arms transfers to Israel, prompting backlash and an internal rift on U.S.-Israeli relations.
Widespread strikes in Greece disrupted public transport and ferries on the first anniversary of the country's deadliest train crash, which killed 57 people. The strikes were to dismantle wage controls from the financial crisis era, while protests demanded justice and accountability for the collision. Demonstrators called for prioritizing human lives over profits, linked the tragedy to austerity measures, and criticized privatization of services. Unionists seek increased hirings and ongoing judicial investigations into the crash. The government faces criticism for not adequately addressing the issues faced by citizens post-crisis.
Since the start of the Israel–Hamas war on 7 October 2023, the UN Human Rights Council has identified "clear evidence" of war crimes by both Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. A UN Commission to the Israel–Palestine conflict stated that there is "clear evidence that war crimes may have been committed in the latest explosion of violence in Israel and Gaza, and all those who have violated international law and targeted civilians must be held accountable." On 27 October, a spokesperson for the OHCHR called for an independent court to review potential war crimes committed by both sides.The International Criminal Court confirmed that its mandate to investigate alleged war crimes committed since June 2014 in the State of Palestine extends to the current conflict.
Thousands in Ladakh protest for statehood to safeguard fragile ecology and autonomy in land and agriculture decisions. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk leads hunger strike, highlighting melting glaciers and impact of militarization from India-China tensions. Nomads face land loss to industrial projects and Chinese encroachments, planning a march to the border. Ladakh split from Kashmir in 2019, intensifying calls for statehood with local legislature. Talks with Indian officials yield no results, fueling concerns of limited democratic rights in the region.
On 7 October 2023, the paramilitary wings of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, PRC, PFLP and DFLP launched a series of coordinated armed incursions into the Gaza envelope of neighboring Israel, the first invasion of Israeli home territory since the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. The attacks, on a Saturday, initiated the Israel–Hamas war, almost exactly 50 years after Operation Badr and the greater Yom Kippur War of 6 October 1973. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups named the attacks Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (or Deluge; Arabic: عملية طوفان الأقصى, romanized: ʿamaliyyat ṭūfān al-ʾAqṣā, usually romanised as "Tufan Al-Aqsa" or "Toofan Al-Aqsa"), while in Israel they are referred to as Black Saturday (Hebrew: השבת השחורה) or the Simchat Torah Massacre (הטבח בשמחת תורה), and internationally as the 7 October attack.The attacks began in the early morning with a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 rockets launched against Israel and vehicle-transported and powered paraglider incursions into Israel. Hamas fighters breached the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in neighboring Israeli communities, including in Be'eri, Kfar Aza, and Nir Oz, and at the Nova music festival. The attacks resulted in 1,139 deaths—695 Israeli civilians (including 36 children), 71 foreign nationals, and 373 members of the security forces. Approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip, including 30 children, with the stated goal to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners. Numerous accounts of rape and sexual assault by Hamas fighters have been reported, which Hamas has denied.Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, rising Israeli settler violence, and recent escalations.At least 44 countries denounced the attack as terrorism, while some Arab and Muslim countries blamed Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause of the attack. The day was labeled the bloodiest in Israel's history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also known as the First Arab–Israeli War, followed the civil war in Mandatory Palestine as the second and final stage of the 1948 Palestine war. It formally began following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine at midnight on 14 May 1948; the Israeli Declaration of Independence had been issued earlier that day, and a military coalition of Arab states entered the territory of Mandatory Palestine in the morning of 15 May.The day after the 29 November 1947 adoption of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine – which planned to divide the territory into an Arab state, a Jewish state, and the Special International Regime encompassing the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem – a civil war began. There had been tension and conflict between Arabs, Jews, and the British since the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the 1920 creation of the British Mandate of Palestine. British policies dissatisfied both Arabs and Jews. Arab opposition developed into the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, while the Jewish opposition developed into the 1944–1947 Jewish insurgency in Palestine.On 15 May 1948, the civil war transformed into a conflict between Israel and the Arab states following the Israeli Declaration of Independence the previous day. Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, and expeditionary forces from Iraq entered Palestine. The invading forces took control of the Arab areas and immediately attacked Israeli forces and several Jewish settlements. The 10 months of fighting took place mostly on the territory of the British Mandate and in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Lebanon, interrupted by several truce periods.As a result of the war, the State of Israel controlled the area that the UN had proposed for the Jewish state, as well as almost 60% of the area proposed for the Arab state, including the Jaffa, Lydda and Ramle area, Upper Galilee, some parts of the Negev and a wide strip along the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem road. Israel also took control of West Jerusalem, which was meant to be part of an international zone for Jerusalem and its environs. Transjordan took control of East Jerusalem and what became known as the West Bank, annexing it the following year. The territory which became the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt.Over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes in the area that became Israel, marking the beginning of the Palestinian refugee problem, in what they refer to as the Nakba (Arabic for "the catastrophe"). A similar number of Jews moved to Israel during the three years following the war, including 260,000 from the surrounding Arab states.
Demonstrators in Buenos Aires, Argentina, marked the 48th anniversary of the 1976 military coup by carrying banners and displaying photos of people who disappeared during the 1976-1983 dictatorship. The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo human rights group also participated in the march. Some demonstrators even pushed a cart with effigies of Uncle Sam symbolizing the U.S. government's support for President Javier Milei.
Protesters in Mexico City broke down the door of the presidential palace with a truck, seeking answers for the disappearance of 43 college students from the Ayotzinapa teaching training school in 2014. Chanting 'You took them alive, we want them back alive,' the protesters demanded justice. President Lopez Obrador had pledged an honest investigation into the case, but has stated it will not be complete before he leaves office this year.
The 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests (also known by other names) were a series of demonstrations against the Hong Kong government's introduction of a bill to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance in regard to extradition. It was the largest series of demonstrations in the history of Hong Kong.The protests began with a sit-in at the government headquarters on 15 March 2019 and a demonstration attended by hundreds of thousands on 9 June 2019, followed by a gathering outside the Legislative Council Complex on 12 June which stalled the bill's second reading. On 16 June, just one day after the Hong Kong government suspended the bill, a larger protest took place to push for its complete withdrawal. The protest was also in response to the perceived excessive use of force by the Hong Kong Police Force on 12 June. As the protests progressed, activists laid out five key demands. Police inaction during the 2019 Yuen Long attack and brutality in 2019 Prince Edward station attack further escalated the protests.Chief Executive Carrie Lam withdrew the bill on 4 September, but refused to concede to the other four demands. A month later, she invoked emergency powers to implement an anti-mask law, escalating the confrontations. The storming of the Legislative Council in July 2019, deaths of Chow Tsz-lok and Luo Changqing, one of whom was unarmed, and sieges of the Chinese University and the Polytechnic University in November 2019 were landmark events. The unprecedented landslide victory of the pro-democracy camp in the November local election was widely regarded as a de facto referendum on the city's governance.The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong in early 2020 largely silenced the protests. Tensions mounted again in May 2020 after Beijing's decision to promulgate a national security bill for Hong Kong. More than a hundred people, including several prominent activists, have been arrested since the imposition of the law. The resulting political atmosphere, along with the crackdown on civil society, sparked a wave of mass emigration from the city. By mid-2020, the Hong Kong government had declared the restoration of peace and stability with the imposition of the national security law.The approval ratings of the government and the police plunged to their lowest points since the 1997 handover. The Central People's Government alleged that foreign powers were instigating the conflict, although the protests have been largely described as "leaderless". The United States passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on 27 November 2019 in response to the movement. The tactics and methods used in Hong Kong inspired other protests that followed worldwide.
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, the Red Sea to the south, Egypt to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and the Palestinian territories – the West Bank along the east and the Gaza Strip along the southwest. Tel Aviv is the financial, economic, and technological center of the country, while its seat of government is in its proclaimed capital of Jerusalem, although Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem is unrecognized internationally.Israel is located in the Southern Levant, a region known historically as Canaan, Palestine, or the Holy Land. In antiquity, it was home to several Canaanite, Israelite and Jewish kingdoms, and is referred to as the Land of Israel in Jewish tradition. The region was ruled by powers such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Achaemenids, Greeks, and Romans. During Roman rule, Jews became a minority in Palestine. The region later came under Byzantine and Arab rule. In the Middle Ages, it was part of the Islamic Caliphates, the Crusader Kingdom, and the Ottoman Empire. The late 19th century saw the rise of Zionism, a movement advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland. Under the British Mandate placed by the League of Nations after World War I, Jewish immigration to the region increased considerably leading to intercommunal conflict between Jews and the Arab majority. The 1947 UN partition plan triggered a civil war between these groups which would see the expulsion or fleeing of most Palestinians from Mandatory Palestine. The British terminated the Mandate on 14 May 1948, and Israel declared independence on the same day.On 15 May 1948, the armies of five neighboring Arab states invaded the area of the former Mandatory Palestine, starting the First Arab–Israeli War. An armistice in 1949 left Israel in control of more territory than the UN partition plan had called for; no new Arab state was created, as the rest of the former Mandate territory was divided between Egypt, which occupied the Gaza Strip, and Jordan, which annexed the West Bank. The 1967 Six-Day War ended with Israel occupying both the West Bank and Gaza alongside the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and the Syrian Golan Heights. Israel has since effectively annexed both East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and has established settlements across the occupied territories, actions which are deemed illegal under international law. Since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt, returning the Sinai Peninsula, and with Jordan, and more recently normalized relations with several Arab countries. However, efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have not succeeded. Israel's practices, in the longest military occupation in modern history, have drawn international condemnation for violating the human rights of the Palestinians.The country has a parliamentary system elected by proportional representation. The prime minister serves as head of government, and is elected by the Knesset, Israel's unicameral legislature. Israel has the highest Human Development Index of all countries in the Middle East and is one of the richest countries in the Middle East and Asia, and an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member since 2010. It has the highest standards of living in the Middle East, and has been ranked as one of the most advanced and technological countries, with a population of nearly 10 million people, as of 2023. It has the world's 29th-largest economy by nominal GDP and 16th by nominal GDP per capita.
Actor Michael Rapaport, once a standard liberal Democrat, has criticized progressive lawmakers and the Democratic Party, expressing a shift in his political views towards considering voting for Trump. He mentioned his support for Israel, criticism of The Squad, concerns about border security, and dissatisfaction with current political realities. Rapaport's views have evolved since 2016 and continue to change rapidly. The interview conducted by a representative of Visegrad24 on an Israeli beach sheds light on Rapaport's changing perspectives and his considerations for future elections.
The 2014 Gaza War, also known as Operation Protective Edge (Hebrew: מִבְצָע צוּק אֵיתָן, romanized: Miv'tza Tzuk Eitan, lit. 'Operation Strong Cliff'), and Battle of the Withered Grain (Arabic: معركة العصف المائكول, romanized: Mʿa-rakkat Al-ʿasf Al-Ma’kool) was a military operation launched by Israel on 8 July 2014 in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory that has been governed by Hamas since 2007. Following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank by Hamas-affiliated Palestinian militants, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated Operation Brother's Keeper, in which some 350 Palestinians, including nearly all of the active Hamas militants in the West Bank, were arrested. Hamas subsequently fired a greater number of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, triggering a seven-week-long conflict between the two sides. It was one of the deadliest outbreaks of open conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in decades. The combination of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli airstrikes resulted in over two thousand deaths, the vast majority of which were Gazan Palestinians. This includes a total of six Israeli civilians who were killed as a result of the conflict.The Israeli military operation aimed to stop rocket fire into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Conversely, Hamas' attacks aimed to bring international pressure onto Israel with the strategic goal of forcing the latter to lift the Israeli–Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip; among its other goals were to end Israel's military offensive, obtain a third party to monitor and guarantee compliance with a ceasefire, release Palestinian political prisoners and overcome its isolation. According to the BBC, Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the rocket attacks by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and other Palestinian militant groups.On 7 July, after seven Hamas militants died in a tunnel explosion in Khan Yunis that was caused either by an Israeli airstrike (per Hamas, Nathan Thrall, BBC, and a senior IDF official) or an accidental explosion of their own munitions (per the IDF), Hamas assumed responsibility for rockets fired into Israel, and subsequently launched 40 more rockets towards Israel. The Israeli aerial operation officially began the following day, and on 17 July, it was expanded to include a full-scale ground invasion of the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of destroying Gaza's tunnel system; the Israeli ground invasion ended on 5 August. On 26 August, an open-ended ceasefire was announced. By this time, the IDF reported that Hamas, PIJ, and other Palestinian militant groups had fired 4,564 rockets and mortars into Israel, with over 735 projectiles having been intercepted mid-flight and shot down by Israel's Iron Dome. Most Gazan mortar and rocket fire was inaccurate, and consequently hit open land; more than 280 projectiles had landed within the Gaza Strip, and 224 had struck residential areas. Palestinian rocketry also killed 13 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, 11 of them children. The IDF attacked 5,263 targets in the Gaza Strip; at least 34 known tunnels were destroyed and two-thirds of Hamas's 10,000-rocket arsenal was either used up or destroyed.Between 2,125 and 2,310 Gazans were killed during the conflict while between 10,626 and 10,895 were wounded (including 3,374 children, of whom over 1,000 were left permanently disabled). Gazan civilian casualty estimates range between 70 percent by the Gaza Health Ministry, 65 percent by the United Nations' (UN) Protection Cluster by OCHA (based in part on Gaza Health Ministry reports), and 36 percent by Israeli officials. The UN estimated that more than 7,000 homes for 10,000 families were razed, together with an additional 89,000 homes damaged, of which roughly 10,000 were severely affected by the bombing. Rebuilding costs were calculated to run from US$4–6 billion over the course of 20 years. 67 Israeli soldiers, 5 Israeli civilians (including one child) and one Thai civilian were killed while 469 Israeli soldiers and 261 Israeli civilians were injured. On the Israeli side, the economic impact of the operation is estimated to have had an impact of NIS 8.5 billion (approximately US$2.5 billion) and a GDP loss of 0.4 percent.
Residents in the town of Figuig in eastern Morocco have been protesting a water management plan that transitions drinking water management from the town to a regional multi-service agency. The plan has sparked concerns about livelihoods and community's future, with accusations of privatization. Protesters argue that their water, sourced from a below-ground aquifer, should not be commodified. Movement leader Mohamed Brahmi faced arrest and an eight-month prison sentence for his involvement in the protests.
Michigan Congressman Tim Walberg, a Republican, openly advocated for the use of nuclear weapons on Gaza to help Israel swiftly eliminate Hamas during a town hall meeting in Dundee. He referenced Nagasaki and Hiroshima, dismissing humanitarian aid for Palestinians. The controversial comments came amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, with Gaza facing famine and casualties on both sides.
Italian doctoral student Giulio Regeni was abducted, tortured, and slain in Cairo in 2016. Four high-level Egyptian security officials are on trial in absentia in Rome for his murder. Regeni's body was found mutilated on a highway, leading to accusations of torture by human rights activists. The accused officials include Maj. Sherif Magdy, police Maj. Gen. Tareq Saber, Col. Hesham Helmy, and Col. Acer Kamal. Egypt denies involvement, claiming Regeni fell victim to ordinary robbers. The trial strained relations between Italy and Egypt, with Italian prosecutors believing the officials were involved in the killing but unable to locate them.
Pope Francis led 30,000 people in Easter celebrations at St Peter's Square, urging for peace with open hearts and hands. He made a plea for a cease-fire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the importance of peace. Despite battling respiratory issues, the Pope appeared in good form during the Mass. The Vatican reported 30,000 attendees at the service, with additional crowds outside the venue, emphasizing the significance of Easter Mass in the liturgical calendar.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi engaged in discussions and signed agreements with European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen and other European leaders such as Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti announced his resignation following months of escalating gang violence, with citizens welcoming the move. Talks between Caribbean leaders and US officials aim to appoint a transition council by Wednesday or Thursday. The security situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, has shown signs of improvement, but challenges remain. A proposed UN-backed security mission involving Kenyan police officers is on hold until a new interim government is established. Haitian politicians are vying for power amid the transition. International efforts focus on forming a council to lead Haiti towards fresh presidential elections.
Four individuals, including three military observers and a Lebanese translator, were wounded in an explosion near the Blue Line that divides Lebanon and Israel, as reported by the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. The incident involved a UN patrol that was hit by an explosion, although the Israeli military denied reports of striking a UNIFIL vehicle. UNIFIL emphasized the need for safety and security for UN personnel, urging all parties to protect non-combatants and cease heavy exchanges of fire to prevent further harm. Israel has engaged in clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon during the Israel-Hamas war, resulting in casualties among Hezbollah fighters, civilians, and UN personnel.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Puerto Rico to highlight the federal aid received after hurricanes, focusing on promoting rooftop solar panels for energy. She was accompanied by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman. Harris praised Puerto Rico's efforts in rebuilding after hurricanes and earthquakes, emphasizing the importance of solar power in providing electricity to homes. Protesters gathered to demand statehood and a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, expressing discontent with Harris's visit.
Protesters in Paterson, New Jersey, raised their hands during a rally following the death of Jameek Lowery, who died after recording a frantic video at a police headquarters and becoming unresponsive in an ambulance with police officers. Lowery's case highlights the challenges families face in holding officers accountable and obtaining information about deadly encounters.
Protesters have launched a coordinated, Europe-wide wave of blockades and demonstrations aimed at highlighting the continued exploitation of North Sea oil and gas, and its harm to the environment. Fossil fuel processing facilities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom were targeted in the action, which began on Saturday. Infrastructure impacted included oil and gas terminals, refineries, and ports where fossil fuels are handled. Some of the blockades resulted in the complete paralysis of facilities while others did not significantly impact their operation. Extinction Rebellion, the climate activist organization that coordinated the blockades, said in a statement: "Under the campaign North Sea Fossil Free, acts of civil disobedience are happening all around the North Sea.
Recent protests in Nepal are calling for the reinstatement of former King Gyanendra Shah and the return of Hinduism as the state religion. Demonstrators accuse political parties of corruption and failure, expressing frustration with the current system. Gyanendra seized power in 2005 but relinquished it in 2006 after mass protests. Since the monarchy was abolished in 2008, Nepal has seen 13 governments, and many citizens feel the republic has not brought stability or economic prosperity.
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