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Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel's actions in Gaza

Published: 05 May 2024 at 11:51

Politics

Students in the United States protesting against Israel's actions in Gaza face detention, suspension, and other punishments, prompting condemnation from US President Joe Biden. The movement, led by student activists demanding divestment from Israel, has been met with military-style crackdowns. An MIT professor commends the students for putting morality, justice, and liberation into practice, aiming for a future of love and peace. Recent events include police clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Southern California and peaceful Palestinian flag displays at Northeastern University's commencement in Boston.

DEEP DIVE


Pro-Palestine Protests at University of Michigan and Miami University in Ohio


Students at the University of Michigan demonstrated solidarity with Gaza by waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-war slogans during the commencement ceremony. In response to Israel's actions in Gaza, protests at US universities have sparked criticism for arrests during demonstrations. At Miami University in Ohio, Students for Justice in Palestine organized a protest demanding the university divest from companies linked to Israel, which led to an overnight encampment on campus. Amid safety concerns and compliance with university policies, the protest continued as of Friday evening without reported clashes with opposing groups.

Wave of Pro-Palestinian Protests on US Campuses Lead to Arrests and Police Response


A wave of pro-Palestinian protests has swept across US universities, resulting in over 2,000 arrests at 40 campuses in 25 states. Recent clashes led to more than 100 arrests at UCLA and about 300 at Columbia University. Tensions escalated following Hamas' attack on October 7, with Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza claiming over 34,000 lives. The protests sparked debates on free speech, law enforcement tactics, and campus safety. The incidents have prompted concerns about antisemitism and Islamophobia, with faculty members and unaffiliated individuals also being arrested during the demonstrations.

Several US Universities See Arrests During Pro-Palestinian Protests


Recent pro-Palestinian protests at various universities across the United States have led to over 300 arrests, with incidents involving law enforcement intervention at New York's Columbia and Yale universities, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Southern California, Emory University in Atlanta, and Emerson College in Boston. The demonstrations are in response to the monthslong assault on Gaza, following Hamas' attack on Israel in October, resulting in over 1,200 deaths. University administrators have taken disciplinary actions, including arrests, academic suspensions, and expulsions, to address the protests.

Protests and Police Response at Columbia University Over Israel's War in Gaza


Students and pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside Columbia University to protest the university's stance on Israel's war in Gaza, leading to intense law enforcement responses and hundreds of arrests. The police were sent to the campus upon administrative request due to the presence of outside agitators. Despite claims by New York City Mayor Eric Adams that external influences were involved, student activists like Cameron Jones assert that the movement is student-led and stands for humanity. The conflict unfolded following the university president's testimony at a Congressional hearing urging police to intervene in anti-war demonstrations on campus.

Global Student Movement Calls for End to University Links with Israel


Pro-Palestinian student protests demanding an immediate Gaza cease-fire and an end to university ties with Israel have sparked similar movements in the UK, France, and Mexico. The protests aim to pressure institutions to reconsider support for Israel amidst sustained Gaza violence and failed cease-fire negotiations. Students are urging universities to sever connections with companies doing business with Israel and to terminate collaborations with Israeli universities. In the UK, the protests align with a national campaign to halt British arms exports to Israel.

Police arrest hundreds at UCLA and other schools amid pro-Palestinian protests


Police forcibly removed defiant pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA and other universities, arresting hundreds, including at UCLA where a tent city was dismantled. Students are protesting Israel's actions in Gaza and demanding divestment from companies supporting Israel. President Biden condemned violence but affirmed the right to protest peacefully.

College students face suspension for participating in Gaza Solidarity Encampment protests against Israel-Hamas war, sparking nationwide debate on free speech


Several college students, including Maryam Alwan from Columbia University, face suspension after participating in protests at the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, raising concerns about the consequences of their actions on their academic futures and adult lives. The protests have ignited a nationwide debate on free speech and the measures universities and law enforcement are taking to handle campus demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas conflict. Colleges like Columbia, Barnard, Yale, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt, and University of Minnesota have seen students arrested, suspended, or expelled in connection to these protests.

How do American universities make their money?


Protesters call US university funds into question and demand schools divest from Israel for its war on Gaza. From Columbia Univeristy in New York to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, protests against Israels war on Gaza have spread across major United States colleges. Protesters demands vary in scope from school to school. But there is one common message disclose and divest. Students want their universities to be more transparent about where their schools money is going.

President Biden addresses nationwide protests sparked by Gaza war and emphasizes the balance between free expression and rule of law


President Biden acknowledges the nationwide campus protests over civilian casualties in Israel's war in Gaza, stressing the importance of upholding both free expression and the rule of law. He urges for peaceful protests without violence, destruction, or hate, highlighting the need for respect and protection of differing opinions while maintaining order. Biden's speech aims to navigate the delicate balance of addressing young, progressive voters' frustrations over his Gaza war response without alienating more moderate voters or playing into Trump's narrative of chaos.

University of Minnesota Reaches Agreement with Pro-Palestine Protesters After Encampment


The University of Minnesota reached an agreement with pro-Palestine protesters to end their 10-day encampment, following demonstrations at various U.S. colleges demanding divestment from companies linked to Israel. The protests were in response to Israel's attacks in Gaza after Hamas killings. Eight students and a faculty member were initially arrested but later released without disciplinary actions. The college will disclose its holdings with public companies on May 7, and coalition representatives will address divestment demands with the Board of Regents on May 10.

University students in France protest against civilian deaths in Gaza and academic ties with Israel


Students at Sciences Po university in France staged a sit-in protest against civilian deaths in Gaza and academic ties with Israel, with some even going on hunger strike. The protests, which began at elite political science faculties, have spread to other universities in the country. Despite police forcibly removing the protesters, the students remain steadfast in their peaceful resistance, emphasizing that their movement is for peace and against civilian deaths, refuting claims of antisemitism.

Republicans and Democrats Clash Over President Biden's Response to Pro-Palestinian Student Protests


Prominent Democrats, including Biden re-election campaign co-chairperson Mitch Landrieu, claim President Biden has been strong in his response to pro-Palestinian student protests, amid criticism from Republicans who accuse him of a weak response. Campus protests have escalated with aggressive police actions leading to arrests. Biden has emphasized the need to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia amidst clashes between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups. Thousands of students have protested against the Biden administrations' support for Israel at various university campuses across the U.S.

Student protests over Israel-Hamas war lead to cancellation of college commencement ceremonies in the U.S.


The University of Southern California (USC) has scrapped all outside speakers at this year's commencement ceremony and canceled a Muslim student's valedictorian speech due to anti-Israel protests on campus, leading to a divide among students. Student protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict have impacted college campuses, with some students supporting the protests while others express exhaustion over global events overshadowing domestic celebrations. The cancellation of commencement ceremonies has left students feeling disheartened about missing important milestones.

Arrests Made at Anti-Israel Protest at University of South Florida


Ten protestors, including a 39-year-old man with a firearm, were arrested at an anti-Israel protest at the University of South Florida. The protest got out of control prompting police to use tear gas to disperse the group. Some protesters were not students at the university, and the event was organized by the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society group. Law enforcement authorities arrested individuals, including non-students, for felony charges. The university took a firm stance against the protest, leading to suspensions and trespassing for some students involved.

Democrats and Republicans navigate political impact of student protests over Gaza war on Senate races


Student protests over the war in Gaza have disrupted university campuses and graduation ceremonies, influencing Senate contests nationwide. Republicans criticise Democrats over their handling of the protests, with Democrats balancing criticism of antisemitism with supporting free expression. Republican candidates have condemned the protests as lawless, while some have shown solidarity with Jewish students. The protests have sharpened campaign rhetoric in states like Pennsylvania, Nevada, Ohio, and Michigan. Both parties are treading cautiously over the internal divide caused by the protests, with Democrats trying to protect freedom of expression while Republicans call for stronger action against antisemitism.

Rutgers students who stood up to anti-Israel protests with USA chant speak out: ‘Fed up with anti-Americanism'


Rutgers students who went viral for waving American flags to counter anti-Israel protesters responded to the school administration caving to demands from demonstrators. Rutgers students who went viral for waving American flags at a student rally responded to the school administration caving to demands from student protesters. Anti-Israel protesters on campus at Rutgers University were countered by a large group of patriotic students waving an American flag and chanting "USA!" on Thursday. Video from Thursday afternoon showed two competing groups of students chanting pro-American and pro-Palestinian slogans on Voorhees Mall in New Jersey . RUTGERS STUDENTS COUNTER ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS ON CAMPUS BY WAVING AMERICAN FLAG, CHANTING 'USA! USA!' Rutgers students who went viral for waving American flags at a student rally responded to the school administration caving to demands from pro-Palestinian protesters in interviews with Fox News Digital Friday.

U.S. Lawsuit Alleges Pro-Palestinian Groups Spread Hamas Propaganda on College Campuses


Survivors of an Oct. 7 terrorist attack in Israel have filed a federal lawsuit accusing American Muslims for Palestine and National Students for Justice in Palestine of being propaganda fronts for Hamas, recruiting college students for the terrorist group. The lawsuit claims these groups spread Hamas propaganda, with AMP admitting to funding anti-Israel protests. SJP leaders have been arrested, including at Columbia University and UCLA. The lawsuit alleges continuous support for Hamas and coordination of protests at American college campuses. AMP and SJP have not responded to the allegations.

Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University campus


Pro-Palestine protests and encampment at Columbia University campus inspired similar campaigns in schools across the United States and globally. The movement took over a university building but lost its encampment within 24 hours. Student journalists covered the event with matching paper badges and blue tape, alongside faculty members. Protesters regrouped and dispersed from the encampment, with some entering Hamilton Hall on campus.

Columbia University Students Speak Out Against Police Brutality and Administrative Neglect


Columbia University students condemn the brutal treatment by riot police on campus, blaming senior administration for neglecting student voices and creating a distorted narrative. The administration's actions led to a crisis that culminated in the NYPD raid in April, stemming from a contentious university event policy implemented in October. Students demand to be heard and highlight a pattern of executive overreach by the senior administration.

Police clear pro-Palestinian encampment at University of Southern California ahead of graduation ceremonies


Los Angeles police officers in riot gear cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Southern California, leading to no arrests or violent clashes. The encampment was dismantled after a dispersal warning was issued, prompting most protesters to leave peacefully. USC had disciplinary investigations against individuals who violated policies and law during previous protests. Graduation ceremonies at universities nationwide, including the University of Michigan, Northeastern, Arizona State, and Ohio State, are being prepared amidst ongoing protests.

British-Palestinian Surgeon Denied Entry to France for Speaking Against Israel-Hamas War


Prof Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a surgeon with experience in Gaza, was denied entry to France to speak at the French Senate about the Israel-Hamas war. Germany imposed a Schengen-wide ban on him, leading to his deportation from France. This ban is seen as an attempt to silence witness testimony on the consequences of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Abu-Sitta has provided evidence to Scotland Yard and the ICC, and is planning to challenge the entry ban in German courts. The incident highlights concerns about attempts to discredit medical witnesses discussing the Gaza conflict.

Biden's Stance on Protests Against Israel's War in Gaza and Its Potential Impact on the Election


President Joe Biden has not publicly embraced the protests against Israel's war in Gaza, citing his skepticism of protest movements and long-standing support for Israel. Polling shows that pro-Palestinian protests are generally unpopular. Biden's reluctance to align with these protests aligns with his political history and demographic challenges. Progressives, young voters, and Arab and Muslim American voters have withheld support over his stance on Israel. While Trump criticizes the protests, Biden's response may impact the upcoming election, with social unrest being identified as a potential weak spot for Biden.

Displaced Gazans Hope for Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Conflict


Displaced residents of Gaza, weary from ongoing conflict, are hopeful for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end the seven-month pummeling of the Gaza Strip. Talks have faced deadlock as Hamas seeks a permanent end to the war while Israel only offers a temporary pause. Despite skepticism, families like Abeer al-Namrouti's and Wael el-Nabahin's long to return home, highlighting weariness and a desperate need for relief among Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to continue until objectives are met, warning against showing weakness in negotiations. Brokered talks in Cairo hope to secure hostages' release and discuss a potential ceasefire.

Full-Blown Famine Threatens Northern Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis


The World Food Programme warns of a full-blown famine in northern Gaza, rapidly spreading south amidst ongoing conflict. Cindy McCain, WFP's Executive Director, highlights the dire situation with over 30 children having already died from malnutrition. Negotiations for a ceasefire in Cairo are ongoing, with Hamas seeking a comprehensive agreement to end aggression. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects Hamas's demands for withdrawal. The humanitarian crisis is severe, with reports of people in north Gaza resorting to eating grass and animal feed. International organizations fear a prolonged recovery in the devastated region.

Democratic lawmakers tell Biden Israel may have violated U.S. law on aid to Gaza


86 House Democrats wrote to President Biden expressing concerns that Israel may have violated U.S. law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing reports of insufficient food, arbitrary restrictions, and impediments to aid flow. Biden's February memorandum demanded Israel's compliance with international law regarding U.S.-funded arms. Secretary of State Blinken must report on Israel's assurances by a deadline. If found questionable, Biden could take actions from seeking new assurances to suspending arms transfers.

Joe Biden announces plans to ease student loan debt for millions of Americans


US President Joe Biden unveils a proposal to cancel up to $20,000 of accrued and capitalized interest for borrowers, benefiting 23 million borrowers. The plan, combined with previously announced measures, aims to provide debt relief to over 30 million borrowers. Biden emphasizes the positive impact on the economy and pledges to continue delivering student loan relief if re-elected in November. Progressives have long urged Biden to address student loan debt, highlighting its significance in appealing to younger voters. However, some groups express discontent over Biden's stance on Israel, impacting his support within certain demographics.

Colleges Increase Security for Graduation Ceremonies Amid Protests


Colleges and universities are boosting security measures for graduation ceremonies amid disruptive protests, particularly focusing on maintaining a balance between free speech rights and a peaceful atmosphere for celebrating students and families. Columbia University is considering canceling its main commencement ceremony due to security concerns following pro-Palestinian protests. Some students and faculty have expressed concerns about the planned commencement speaker and the potential cancellation of the event. Similar security and protest-related issues have been seen at the University of Southern California, which canceled its main commencement ceremony but will proceed with individual school ceremonies.

Israeli forces kill 5 Palestinians in raid in the West Bank village of Deir al-Ghusun near Tulkarm


Israeli forces engaged in a 12-hour counterterrorism operation in Deir al-Ghusun, resulting in the death of 5 Palestinians, with 4 from Hamas' armed wing. The operation involved the use of live ammunition and missiles, and a member of Israel's border police was wounded. Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the Israel-Hamas war started in October, with at least 496 Palestinians killed in the territory. The Gaza war began with a Hamas attack on Israel, leading to over 1,170 deaths in Israel and 34,654 in Gaza.

Gaza–Israel conflict (Wikipedia)


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.

Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present) (Wikipedia)


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.

Israel moves to shut down Al Jazeera operations


Israel's government has decided to close Al Jazeera in the country, accusing it of being a mouthpiece for Hamas. Police raided the broadcaster's office in Jerusalem, seizing equipment. Al Jazeera condemned the move as a threat to security, asserting its right to pursue legal action. Despite the closure, the channel remains accessible through Facebook in Israel. Criticisms of Al Jazeera's alleged bias have grown since recent Hamas attacks. Israel has restricted foreign journalists from Gaza, where Al Jazeera staff provide on-the-ground reporting. A recent law empowers Israel to shut down foreign broadcasters during conflicts.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict (Wikipedia)


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.

Israel closes main Gaza crossing after Hamas attack, signaling ongoing conflict


Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering humanitarian aid for Gaza after an attack by Hamas militants, leading Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to warn of a powerful operation in Rafah and across all of Gaza, hindering cease-fire efforts mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed low expectations for a cease-fire deal due to Hamas' extreme demands, while Hamas insisted on negotiations to stop Israeli aggression. The conflict escalated with projectiles launched at the Kerem Shalom crossing, resulting in injuries and military strikes by Israel.

Queen Rania of Jordan says U.S. is seen as enabler of Israel


By Kaia Hubbard May 5, 2024 / 10:41 AM EDT / CBS News Palestinians and others in the Middle East see the U.S. as an "enabler" of Israel in its war with Hamas , Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan said Sunday on "Face the Nation." "People view the U.S.

Negotiations at Critical Point for Truce Deal Between Hamas and Israel


A delegation from Hamas is in Cairo for negotiations with mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the US to halt Israel's war on Gaza for 40 days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israel insists on launching a ground invasion into Gaza's Rafah city. Talks are in a critical phase with progress made but sticking points remain, including the ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza. UN agencies warn a ground operation would be catastrophic for the 1.5 million people in Rafah.

UN says 'full-blown famine' in northern Gaza after conflict with Israel


Cindy McCain, the American director of the UN World Food Program, declared 'full-blown famine' in northern Gaza due to over six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe restrictions on food deliveries. The US plans to establish on-the-ground arrangements in Gaza for aid delivery through a new sea route. Israel, controlling entrance to Gaza, states it is increasing food and humanitarian aid access through land crossings.

Former President Trump denounces anti-Israel protests at US universities, praises law enforcement


Former President Trump criticized the radical left protesters at US universities advocating for divestment from Israel, praising law enforcement for their response at UCLA and Columbia. The protests are associated with far-left groups like National Students for Justice in Palestine. Trump faces a trial in NY over falsifying business records, specifically related to paying Stormy Daniels to remain quiet about an alleged affair. Prosecutors are aiming to prove that Trump falsified records with the intention to commit a felony. Trump denied the affair with Daniels.

Israel–Hamas war (Wikipedia)


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.

University of Southern California Cancels Graduation Ceremony Amid Israel-Hamas War Protests


The University of Southern California canceled its main graduation ceremony due to protests against the Israel-Hamas war, with worries of disruption to other commencement ceremonies across the U.S. Dozens of students were arrested at various campuses as protests intensified.

Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present) (Wikipedia)


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."

Israel Shuts Gaza Crossing After Hamas Rocket Barrage From Rafah


(Bloomberg) -- Israel closed the Kerem Shalom humanitarian crossing into Gaza on Sunday after a rocket barrage was fired by Hamas from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in an incident that could imperil delicate hostage and cease-fire negotiations. Most Read from Bloomberg Frances Macron Calls for Reset of Economic Ties With China Everything Apple Plans to Show at May 7 Let Loose iPad Event Berkshire Cash Hoard Scores Another Record as Earnings Gain Worsening Weather Is Igniting a $25 Billion Market The Worlds Hunger for Salmon Is Linked to an Ecological Disaster Israel and Hamas have been negotiating for weeks through mediators toward a potential truce that would include the release of hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. At the same time, Israel has threatened to launch an operation in Rafah, where it says Hamas battalions remain intact, and where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are sheltering. The Israeli army said about 10 projectiles were fired at Kerem Shalom, a corridor for humanitarian aid transfers that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited last week. Hamas military wing claimed responsibility for the attack, which Israels Foreign Ministry said in a social media post injured seven people.

Gaza Strip (Wikipedia)


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.

Israeli Prime Minister Warns of Continued Conflict with Hamas as Cease-Fire Talks Persist


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that if Israel agrees to Hamas extreme positions, a cease-fire is only a matter of time, while Hamas is engaged in cease-fire talks in Cairo. Israel has closed its main crossing for aid delivery after Hamas attacked it, escalating tensions. The U.S. is preparing for aid delivery in Gaza via a new sea route. Netanyahu faces pressure from hard-liners in his government to reject Hamas demands. Cease-fire efforts in Cairo are hindered by ongoing attacks and disagreements over terms, with Israel vowing to press on with military operations. A full-blown famine warning in northern Gaza adds urgency to the negotiations.

Arab–Israeli conflict (Wikipedia)


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.

Gaza War (2008–2009) (Wikipedia)


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.

Israeli Prime Minister Rejects Hamas Demands in Gaza Ceasefire Talks


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he cannot accept Hamas demands to end the war in Gaza, with discussions revolving around a new framework from Cairo. Hamas seeks Israeli withdrawal and cessation of hostilities permanently, while Netanyahu accused Hamas of making unacceptable demands like full Israeli retreat from Gaza. Despite some optimism from Egyptian officials on progress, the latest comments show significant differences between the two sides.

Israel to invade Gaza city of Rafah regardless of truce talks with Hamas


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will launch an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah regardless of truce talks with Hamas, with US President Joe Biden warning against it and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calling it an "unbearable escalation". More than half of Gaza's population is in Rafah, facing dire conditions, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has warned of it being the "biggest catastrophe in the Palestinian people's history". Israel may halt the operation if a ceasefire agreement is reached.

Turkey Suspends All Trade with Israel Over Gaza Offensive


Turkey has halted all trade activities with Israel due to ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip, with exports and imports abruptly stopped by the Turkish Trade Ministry. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated, with Turkey imposing trade restrictions until Israel allows sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza. Trade volume between Turkey and Israel was $6.8 billion in 2023, but tensions escalated following Turkey's accusations against Israel and Israel's retaliatory trade barriers. President Erdogan's government faces pressure at home over its actions, including joining a legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Biden says to oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran: media


WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a call on Saturday that the United States will oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran, US news portal Axios reported, citing a senior White House official. "You got a win. Take the win," Biden told Netanyahu, thanking Israel, the United States, and other countries for their joint efforts, which failed Iran's attacks, according to the official. The official was quoted as saying that when Biden told Netanyahu that the United States would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran and would not support such operations, Netanyahu said he understood. Also on Saturday night, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke for the second time with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, during which the Pentagon chief reiterated Washington's "ironclad" support for Israel's defense, Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Governance of the Gaza Strip (Wikipedia)


The governance of the Gaza Strip since the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 has been carried out by Hamas. The Hamas government in Gaza was led by Ismail Haniyeh from 2007 until February 2017, when Haniyeh was replaced as leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip by Yahya Sinwar. As of November 2023, Yahya Sinwar continues to be the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas control of the northern part of the Gaza Strip came to an end in January 2024, according to Israeli government statements.After Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections on 25 January 2006, Ismail Haniyeh was nominated Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, establishing a Palestinian national unity government with Fatah. This government effectively collapsed with the outbreak of the violent conflict between Hamas and Fatah. After the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas on 14 June 2007, Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led government and appointed Salam Fayyad Prime Minister. Though the new Ramallah-based Palestinian government's authority was claimed to extend to both the Palestinian territories, in effect it became limited to the West Bank, as Hamas did not recognize the dismissal and continued to rule the Gaza Strip. Both administrations – Abbas' Fatah government in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza – regarded themselves as the sole legitimate government of the Palestinian National Authority. The international community, however, recognized the Ramallah administration as the legitimate government.Since the division between the two parties, there have been conflicts between Hamas and similar factions operating in Gaza, and with Israel, including the Gaza War of 2008–2009, the 2014 Gaza War and most notably the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The radicalization of the Gaza Strip had previously motivated internal conflicts between different groups, in events like 2009 Hamas crackdown on Jund Ansar Allah, an al-Qaeda affiliated group, resulting in 22 people killed; and the April 2011 Hamas crackdown on Jahafil Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad fi Filastin, a Salafist group involved in Vittorio Arrigoni's murder.Negotiations toward reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, which were mediated by Egypt, produced a preliminary agreement in 2011, which was supposed to be implemented by May 2012 through joint elections. Despite the peace plan, Palestinian sources were quoted in January 2012 as saying that the May joint elections "would not be possible". In February 2012, Hamas' Khaled Meshal and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signed the Hamas–Fatah Doha agreement. A unity government was sworn on 2 June 2014. The government was supposed to exercise its functions in Gaza and the West Bank, and prepare for national elections, though that did not happen, with disagreements between the two parties. With the failure of the national unity government, the Palestinian National Authority continued to exercise power only in the West Bank, while Hamas remained in power in the Gaza Strip.

Israel (Wikipedia)


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.

Iran–Israel proxy conflict (Wikipedia)


The Iran–Israel proxy conflict, also known as the Iran–Israel proxy war or Iran–Israel Cold War, is an ongoing proxy conflict between Iran and Israel. In the Israeli–Lebanese conflict, Iran has supported Lebanese Shia militias, most notably Hezbollah. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran has backed Palestinian groups such as Hamas. Israel has supported Iranian rebels, such as the People's Mujahedin of Iran, conducted airstrikes against Iranian allies in Syria and assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists. In 2018 Israeli forces directly attacked Iranian forces in Syria.Motivated by the periphery doctrine, Imperial Iran and Israel had close relations, seeing Arab powers as a common threat. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran cut off relations, but covert ties continued during the subsequent Iran–Iraq War. Iran trained and armed Hezbollah during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and continued to back Shia militias throughout the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon. Even before 1979, Iranian Islamists had materially supported the Palestinians; after 1979 Iran attempted relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization, and later with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Israel fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006. Israel has fought several wars with Palestinians in and around the Gaza Strip: in 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, 2021 and 2023-2024. The 1982 Lebanon War and Israel–Hamas war have been the deadliest wars of the Arab–Israeli conflict.Various reasons have been given for the Iran-Israel conflict. Iran and Israel had previously enjoyed warm ties due to common threats, but by 1990s the USSR had dissolved and Iraq had been weakened. Iranian Islamists have long championed the Palestinian people, whom they perceive as "oppressed". Scholars believe that by supporting the Palestinians, Iran seeks greater acceptance among Sunnis and Arabs, both of whom dominate the Middle East. Ideologically, Iran seeks to replace Israel with a one-state solution (though Iran has at times also supported the two-state solution) and has predicted Israel's demise. Israel sees Iran as an existential threat, and accuses its regime of harboring genocidal intentions. Consequently, Israel has sought sanctions and military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Gaza City (Wikipedia)


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.

Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel\'s actions in Gaza Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel\'s actions in Gaza Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel\'s actions in Gaza Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel\'s actions in Gaza Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel\'s actions in Gaza Student-led movement for Palestine faces military crackdowns in the United States amid protests against Israel\'s actions in Gaza

SOURCES

NDTV

After US, Pro-Palestinian Student Protests Spread To More Countries

NDTV

BBC News

Inside 'peaceful and proud' Gaza protest camp at a UK university

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews

Yahoo! News

Senate races are roiled by campus protests over the war in Gaza as campaign rhetoric sharpens

Yahoo! News

The Huffington Post

25 Arrested At University Of Virginia As Police Clash With Pro-Palestinian Protesters

The Huffington Post

The Guardian

‘I was happy they still stand beside us’: Palestinians in Rafah on US campus protests

Malak A Tantesh in Rafah

The Guardian

‘There are people in tents writing dissertations’: UK reaches for scale of US campus protests

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/neha-gohil

Yahoo! News

France's Macron criticizes blockades at university Gaza protests

Yahoo! News

AP News

Pro-Palestinian protesters at USC comply with school order to leave their encampment

https://apnews.com/author/philip-marcelo

Fox News

Anti-Israel unrest persists on US campuses amid crackdown, looming graduations

Fox News

CNN

Police tactics at campus protests reveal disparities in approaches to public order and lessons learned from 2020 protests | CNN

Emma Tucker

Al Jazeera

Dozens arrested in US campuses in another weekend of pro-Palestine protests

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera

Students protest for Palestine at Michigan University graduation

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera

The US paradox of protest: Celebrated, condemned, welcomed, muzzled

Al Jazeera

The Huffington Post

USC Protesters Forced To Leave Amid Police Raid On Rebuilt Encampment

The Huffington Post

Al Jazeera

Where is the pro-Palestine student protest movement heading?

Al Jazeera

PANORA

Pro-Palestine Protests at University of Michigan and Miami University in Ohio

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Wave of Pro-Palestinian Protests on US Campuses Lead to Arrests and Police Response

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Several US Universities See Arrests During Pro-Palestinian Protests

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Protests and Police Response at Columbia University Over Israel's War in Gaza

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Global Student Movement Calls for End to University Links with Israel

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Police arrest hundreds at UCLA and other schools amid pro-Palestinian protests

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College students face suspension for participating in Gaza Solidarity Encampment protests against Israel-Hamas war, sparking nationwide debate on free speech

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PANORA

How do American universities make their money?

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President Biden addresses nationwide protests sparked by Gaza war and emphasizes the balance between free expression and rule of law

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University of Minnesota Reaches Agreement with Pro-Palestine Protesters After Encampment

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University students in France protest against civilian deaths in Gaza and academic ties with Israel

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Republicans and Democrats Clash Over President Biden's Response to Pro-Palestinian Student Protests

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Student protests over Israel-Hamas war lead to cancellation of college commencement ceremonies in the U.S.

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Arrests Made at Anti-Israel Protest at University of South Florida

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Democrats and Republicans navigate political impact of student protests over Gaza war on Senate races

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PANORA

Rutgers students who stood up to anti-Israel protests with USA chant speak out: ‘Fed up with anti-Americanism'

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PANORA

U.S. Lawsuit Alleges Pro-Palestinian Groups Spread Hamas Propaganda on College Campuses

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Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University campus

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Columbia University Students Speak Out Against Police Brutality and Administrative Neglect

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Police clear pro-Palestinian encampment at University of Southern California ahead of graduation ceremonies

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British-Palestinian Surgeon Denied Entry to France for Speaking Against Israel-Hamas War

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Biden's Stance on Protests Against Israel's War in Gaza and Its Potential Impact on the Election

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Displaced Gazans Hope for Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Conflict

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Full-Blown Famine Threatens Northern Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

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Democratic lawmakers tell Biden Israel may have violated U.S. law on aid to Gaza

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Joe Biden announces plans to ease student loan debt for millions of Americans

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Colleges Increase Security for Graduation Ceremonies Amid Protests

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Israeli forces kill 5 Palestinians in raid in the West Bank village of Deir al-Ghusun near Tulkarm

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Israel moves to shut down Al Jazeera operations

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Israeli–Palestinian conflict

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Israel closes main Gaza crossing after Hamas attack, signaling ongoing conflict

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Queen Rania of Jordan says U.S. is seen as enabler of Israel

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Negotiations at Critical Point for Truce Deal Between Hamas and Israel

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UN says 'full-blown famine' in northern Gaza after conflict with Israel

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Former President Trump denounces anti-Israel protests at US universities, praises law enforcement

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Israel–Hamas war

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University of Southern California Cancels Graduation Ceremony Amid Israel-Hamas War Protests

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Israel Shuts Gaza Crossing After Hamas Rocket Barrage From Rafah

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Israeli Prime Minister Warns of Continued Conflict with Hamas as Cease-Fire Talks Persist

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Arab–Israeli conflict

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Gaza War (2008–2009)

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Israeli Prime Minister Rejects Hamas Demands in Gaza Ceasefire Talks

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Israel to invade Gaza city of Rafah regardless of truce talks with Hamas

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Turkey Suspends All Trade with Israel Over Gaza Offensive

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Biden says to oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran: media

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