Results for: Israel-Hamas War

Despite six months of conflict, numerous Israeli soldiers are still seeking donations to provide basic supplies like helmets, boots, and knee pads. While the official line is that the Israeli military fulfills all soldiers’ needs, reality shows otherwise. Shortages have raised questions about the military’s preparedness and response to pressing needs. Aid groups have emerged to coordinate donations and provide assistance, highlighting the inadequacy of government supply efforts. The situation has led to a grassroots effort to support soldiers, with donations estimated to exceed $1 billion, paralleling similar charitable giving observed during the Ukraine war.

Former President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, accusing him of “totally abandoning Israel” and enabling pro-Palestinian protesters. These attacks come as a small but potentially impactful coalition of Jewish voters distance themselves from the Democratic Party. Although the majority of Jews still identify as Democrats, their alignment with the party has declined in recent years, with a potential impact on close election races. Trump’s allegations that Biden’s frustration with Israel has led to an increase in antisemitic displays on college campuses have drawn sharp criticism from Jewish leaders, who accuse the former president of fueling antisemitism.

The Israeli military is deploying two reserve brigades for missions in the Gaza Strip, including potential operations in Rafah, Hamas’ last major stronghold. The move comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Rafah, raising concerns over civilian casualties as more than half of Gaza’s population seeks shelter in the city. The brigades have been studying lessons from the ongoing fighting in Gaza and will engage in defensive and tactical missions. The deployment is part of Israel’s war aim of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities, while the conflict has also led to increased violence in the West Bank, including the fatal shooting of a Palestinian woman by Israeli soldiers at the Okfim junction.

Anti-Israel protests have spread to college campuses across the US, with students forming protest encampments and demanding that their schools stop doing business with Israel. The protests, inspired by ongoing demonstrations at Columbia University in New York City, have gained momentum as administrators continue to allow anti-Israel demonstrations at schools like Yale, MIT, UC Berkeley, University of Southern California, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, University of Virginia and others.

The protests come as the Israel-Hamas war surpassed the six-month milestone earlier this month, which has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian Palestinian deaths. The stories of suffering in Gaza have sparked international calls for a cease-fire and protests around the world.

Students at campuses across the U.S. have demanded their schools stop doing business with Israel or the U.S. Defense Department, which gives money to it. While the specific demands may vary from campus to campus, they include:

* Stop doing business with military weapons manufacturers that are supplying arms to Israel.
* Stop accepting research money from Israel for projects that aid the country’s military efforts.
* Stop investing college endowments with money managers who profit from Israeli companies or contractors.
* Be more transparent about what money is received from Israel and what it’s used for.

President Biden was asked this week whether he condemned “the antisemitic protests” and he said that he did. “I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians,” Biden added after an Earth Day event Monday.

The president of Columbia University, seen as the origin point of the mass demonstrations, said she was “deeply saddened” by the actions of agitators who riled students and faculty with anti-Jewish slogans and chants.

“I am deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus,” said Dr. Nemat “Minouche” Shafik. “Our bonds as a community have been severely tested in ways that will take a great deal of time and effort to reaffirm. Students across an array of communities have conveyed fears for their safety and we have announced additional actions we are taking to address security concerns. The decibel of our disagreements has only increased in recent days. These tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas.”

Aerial footage reveals the catastrophic destruction in Khan Yunis, the main city in the southern Gaza Strip, as Israel intensifies its aerial bombardments and artillery attacks against Hamas militants.

On the coasts of the United States, tensions escalated between pro-Palestinian student protesters and universities. At Columbia University, protesters faced a midnight deadline to vacate their encampment, while dozens remained barricaded inside two buildings at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The demonstrations, part of a nationwide movement against Israel’s conflict with Hamas, have resulted in arrests and heightened concerns about campus safety and free speech rights. As universities attempt to balance these factors, many are resorting to stricter discipline.

Inspired by protests against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, students at numerous U.S. colleges are setting up encampments and demanding that their schools cease business with Israel and companies supporting its military operations. The students’ demands include halting investments with arms manufacturers, research collaborations aiding Israeli military efforts, and partnerships with Israeli companies or contractors. Despite university officials expressing concerns about potential antisemitism, students remain determined, citing the suffering in Gaza and the need for greater transparency in university investments.

Cal Poly Humboldt has closed its campus through Wednesday due to safety concerns after pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves inside Siemens Hall, one of the main buildings on campus. On Monday, several dozen demonstrators took over the building, while another group protested outside. Law enforcement in riot gear responded and a standoff ensued, resulting in at least one demonstrator being injured. Three people were reportedly dragged out of the building, but protesters remained inside after law enforcement cleared the scene. Classes will be held remotely when possible amidst other protests over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on university campuses across the country.

Columbia University is facing protests from hundreds of students over the Biden administration’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters are demanding that Columbia divest from companies with ties to Israel, increase financial transparency, and stop sending military aid to Israel. More than 100 protesters were arrested on Friday, but demonstrations have only expanded since then. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has announced that he will visit Columbia University on Wednesday to meet with Jewish students and discuss the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. A group of four Jewish Democrats, including Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), also visited the campus and threatened that university President Minouche Shafik must quickly act to quell protests or face consequences from Congress. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) also visited campus and denounced the protests. A White House statement called the demonstrations “unacceptable and counterproductive.”

President Joe Biden’s invitation to speak at Morehouse College’s commencement has sparked controversy among some faculty and supporters due to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Critics claim that Biden’s approach effectively supports genocide in Gaza and contradicts Martin Luther King Jr.’s pacifist stance. The White House confirmed Biden’s May 19th speech at Morehouse, where he will also address the graduating class at West Point. The controversy stems from concerns raised by Morehouse alumni who circulated an online letter urging the school to rescind the invitation based on Biden’s Israel-related policies. The letter emphasizes King’s opposition to the Vietnam War and his belief that war diminishes humanity. Despite faculty concerns, Morehouse Provost Kendrick Brown affirmed the school’s invitation to Biden, which was reportedly issued in September before the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated. The controversy highlights Biden’s ongoing challenges with Black Americans, as his approval ratings have declined among the group since he took office. The president’s speech at Morehouse will mark the second consecutive year he has addressed a graduating class at a historically Black college, following his commencement address at Howard University in 2023. Biden’s visit to Georgia, a key battleground state in the 2020 election, underscores his efforts to shore up support among Black voters.