A Columbia Journalism School alumnus sparked a heated debate among alumni after referring to Gaza protesters as “murderous crackpots” and “pro-terror wack jobs.” His comments were met with outrage and accusations of hate speech by fellow graduates, leading to an administrator’s intervention to maintain civility. The incident highlights the growing tensions surrounding the Middle East conflict on college campuses.
Dozens of protesters were arrested at an encampment in New York City on Monday night. The encampment was set up by students and faculty members at New York University as part of a Pro-Palestine protest. The NYPD arrested dozens of people and the remaining protesters formed a circle around the tents to prevent further arrests.
Israel is planning to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, before launching an offensive against Hamas. The operation is expected to last six weeks and involve moving civilians to nearby areas with shelters and essential supplies. Egypt has expressed concern over the potential operation, while the Biden administration has opposed a mass invasion without proper evacuation and humanitarian care.
An independent review of the UNRWA found that while the agency had implemented measures to maintain neutrality, further improvements were needed. Specifically, the report called for more robust vetting of staff members and regular inspections of agency facilities. However, the review did not substantiate Israeli allegations that a significant number of UNRWA employees were tied to militant groups.
As Jews around the world celebrate Passover, a time for remembering the liberation from slavery in Egypt, the author reflects on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and how the story of the Exodus can inspire solidarity and action for justice.
The head of Israel’s military intelligence division, Aharon Haliva, has resigned following the failure to prevent a deadly Hamas invasion in October. The attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths and sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. Haliva accepted responsibility for the intelligence lapse, which allowed hundreds of Hamas fighters to breach Gaza’s border and overrun communities and military bases.
The 2024 PEN America Literary Awards ceremony has been cancelled due to the withdrawal of 28 nominated authors in protest of the organization’s response to Israel’s war on Gaza. The decision follows backlash from the literary community, who urged finalists and winners to withdraw from the awards. PEN America has announced that the career achievement winners will still receive their awards, but no public ceremony will take place.
An independent UN review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has found that Israel has failed to provide credible evidence to support its claims that UNRWA staff were members of “terrorist” groups. The allegations led to a significant funding deficit for UNRWA. Despite the report’s findings, some donor countries, including the US, continue to suspend funding. The review highlights the importance of UNRWA’s work in Gaza, where famine threatens millions due to restricted food convoys.
Students at New York University and The New School have established encampments on their respective campuses in protest of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The encampments echo a similar demonstration at Columbia University last week, which resulted in the arrests of over 100 protesters. The students demand university divestment from Israel and the end of disciplinary actions against pro-Palestinian activists.
Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, head of Israel’s military intelligence directorate, stepped down following the disastrous Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. He becomes the first senior official to accept responsibility for the deadliest assault on Israel to date.
