Results for: Gaza

Google has fired an additional 20 workers involved in protests over the company’s contract with the Israeli government, bringing the total terminations to 50. The organizers of the protests, No Tech for Apartheid, claim that some of the fired workers were non-participating bystanders during the sit-in protests at Google’s offices. Google has confirmed the additional firings, stating that its investigation concluded that those terminated were directly involved in disruptive activities. However, No Tech for Apartheid alleges that Google is retaliating against workers who were simply present in the vicinity of the protest. The fired workers and their supporters have vowed to continue their activism, while the protests have sparked broader debates about the role of politics in the workplace and the ongoing civilian casualties in Gaza.

Qatar has stated that the political leadership of Hamas will remain in Doha as long as their presence is beneficial to mediation efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The announcement comes after Qatar reassessed its role in the conflict following the failure of mediators, including the U.S. and Egypt, to secure a pause in fighting during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Qatar, which has been engaged in weeks of behind-the-scenes talks on a possible truce in Gaza, has been criticized by Israeli officials for its mediation efforts.

Protests over the conflict in Gaza gripped university campuses across the United States, prompting closures and arrests. Cal Poly Humboldt joined the movement with demonstrators occupying an administrative building and barricading the entrance, leading to the campus’s shutdown. The protesters demanded transparency about the university’s dealings with Israel and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Law enforcement officials in riot gear responded, and the university urged protesters to peacefully leave the building. Despite the closure, students and faculty were advised to prepare for remote classes and seek support from activist groups advocating for the protesters’ First Amendment rights.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has expressed horror over the destruction of two medical facilities in Gaza and reports of mass graves containing hundreds of bodies. The UN is working to verify reports of 283 bodies found at the Nasser hospital and 30 at the Al Shifa hospital, some with their hands tied.

Google has fired at least 20 more workers in the wake of protests over technology the company is supplying the Israeli government amid the Gaza war, bringing the total number of terminated staff to more than 50. The company said it fired the additional workers after its investigation gathered details from coworkers who were “physically disrupted” and it identified employees who used masks and didn’t carry their staff badges to hide their identities. Google disputed the group’s claims, saying that it carefully confirmed that “every single one of those whose employment was terminated was personally and definitively involved in disruptive activity inside our buildings.”

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, calling him an “obstacle” to a two-state solution between Israel and Gaza. She urged Netanyahu to resign, claiming responsibility for the deadly response to Hamas’s attack on Israel.

The United Nations has called for an international investigation into reports of mass graves at two Gaza hospitals destroyed during Israeli sieges. The UN rights office expressed horror at the destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. Palestinian authorities claim that over 200 bodies were uncovered at the Nasser hospital, while Israel denies the allegations and says it exhumed corpses to search for hostages. The UN demands an independent investigation given the history of impunity in the region.

The United States is investigating reports from Gaza claiming the discovery of a mass grave containing over 300 bodies at a hospital. Gaza’s Civil Defense alleges finding bodies with signs of torture and possible executions. The IDF denies these claims, stating that its forces respectfully examined corpses buried by Palestinians in the area of Nasser Hospital, returning those not belonging to Israeli hostages. Despite ongoing inquiries, the U.S. State Department has emphasized its support for Israel while acknowledging the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Over 100 New York University students and faculty members were arrested by the NYPD after setting up an encampment on campus in solidarity with victims of the Gaza conflict. The university had warned the protesters to leave the encampment or face consequences, citing safety concerns and disruptive behavior. Faculty members formed a chain to shield the students from the police, resulting in their own arrests. The university also reported incidents of antisemitism but declined to provide details. The arrests are part of a broader trend of protests on college campuses against Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza.

The US State Department is conducting an investigation into potential human rights abuses by the Israeli military during the recent Gaza conflict. US State Secretary Antony Blinken emphasized that the probe adheres to the same standards applied to other countries, rejecting any suggestion of a ‘double standard’.