Results for: Israel-Hamas War

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.

The spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, Abu Obeida, has called for an escalation across all fronts in a televised speech marking 200 days since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. The war began with a Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, which killed nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized 253 hostages. Israel launched an aerial assault and ground offensive in Gaza in response, vowing to eliminate Hamas and end its rule of Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has placed the Palestinian death toll since October 7 at over 34,000 people, although this figure cannot be independently verified and does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed some 13,000 Hamas gunmen in battle, as well as some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7. In his speech, Abu Obeida praised Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13, saying the direct strikes with hundreds of explosive drones and missiles “set new rules, drew important equations, and confused the enemy and those behind it.” He also called for an escalation in the West Bank and Jordan, which he called “one of the most important Arab fronts.” Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, intercepted and shot down dozens of Iranian drones that entered its airspace and were heading to Israel, two regional security sources said earlier this month.

In the wake of the Israel-Hamas War, college campuses across the country have been the site of protests. Free speech advocate Alex Morey and foreign policy expert Trita Parsi weigh in on the events.

PEN America has canceled its annual awards ceremony due to withdrawals from authors protesting the organization’s perceived bias in favor of Israel during the Israel-Hamas War. Notable withdrawals include Rachel Eliza Griffiths, wife of Salman Rushdie, and nine out of ten PEN/Jean Stein Book Award nominees. The cancelation follows open letters from over 1,000 writers and poets urging PEN America to advocate for Palestinian rights.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show a new tent compound being built near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, signaling that the Israeli military may be planning an offensive targeting the city of Rafah amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The tent compound, which has been under construction since April 16, has grown significantly in recent days and is located near Khan Younis, an area that has faced repeated Israeli military operations in recent weeks. Israel has threatened to target Hamas with “additional painful blows” over the breakdown of talks over hostage releases, and the construction of the tent compound suggests that an offensive on Rafah, where half of Gaza’s population has fled, may be imminent.

PEN America has called off its annual awards ceremony due to widespread dissatisfaction with the organization’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. Dozens of nominees have dropped out of the event, including nine of the 10 Jean Stein Award finalists, citing concerns about alleged bias in favor of Israel and the downplaying of atrocities against Palestinian writers. PEN America has defended its work, citing its condemnation of the loss of life in Gaza and its efforts to support Palestinian writers. However, critics argue that these efforts are insufficient and call for the resignation of top officials.