Results for: Israel

A video tweeted by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has highlighted the confusion among some protesters at New York University (NYU) regarding the purpose of their pro-Palestine demonstrations. In the video, one protester admitted to not knowing what NYU was doing or why they were protesting against Israel. Another protester expressed a desire to be more educated about the situation. The incident has drawn criticism, with Giuliani slamming the protesters as “terribly misguided people.” The protests, which have taken place at multiple US universities, have been ongoing for weeks. They have intensified after a number of arrests were made across multiple varsities. Videos on social media have shown police using force to disperse demonstrations at the University of Texas’s Austin campus and the University of Southern California. The students have rallied behind Palestine and criticized US President Joe Biden for his handling of the Israel-Gaza war.

The United States has demanded answers from Israel after Hamas officials in Gaza claimed to have discovered a mass grave at a hospital that was targeted by a recent Israeli raid. The Hamas-run Civil Defense agency said that health workers uncovered nearly 340 bodies of people allegedly killed and buried by Israeli forces at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. However, evidence suggests that this claim is false, as the bodies had previously been buried at that same location by Palestinians amid the fighting between Israeli forces and terror operatives in the area.

Former President Donald Trump has accused President Biden of ‘hate’ for Israel, Jews, and Palestinians, claiming that Biden is responsible for an avalanche of pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. college campuses. Trump made these accusations in a post on Truth Social, alleging that the protests have made the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally by white nationalists ‘look like a peanut.’ Trump has previously blamed Biden for the protests, calling for more police intervention on campuses. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has also made similar remarks. Biden has condemned the antisemitic protests on campuses but has also criticized those who ‘don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.’

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), a member of the progressive ‘Squad,’ has accused the pro-Israel group AIPAC of racism and bullying. Bowman made the comments during a virtual town hall meeting on Monday, claiming that AIPAC is targeting him because he is black and a member of the ‘Squad.’ Bowman also criticized AIPAC for supporting his Democratic primary opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

After facing backlash over collaborating with Hillary Clinton on a musical, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai reaffirmed her support for Palestine. She condemned Israel’s violations of international law and war crimes, urging world leaders to enforce accountability. Yousafzai expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, highlighting the necessity of humanitarian aid and a ceasefire. Despite criticism for her partnership with Clinton, Yousafzai remains steadfast in her advocacy for justice and an end to violence.

Amidst concerns raised by international bodies, Palestinian medics have discovered over 300 bodies in mass graves at the Nasser Medical Complex and al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, raising allegations of potential war crimes and extrajudicial killings during the Israeli military offensive. The harrowing findings have prompted calls for an independent investigation to ensure accountability and preserve evidence. The Israeli military claims that those killed were militants, while witnesses and journalists maintain that civilians and medical workers were among the victims.

Police at the University of Southern California (USC) removed several tents set up by protesters as part of a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The incident involved a physical altercation between police and protesters, resulting in the detention of one individual. The protest follows a series of similar demonstrations on college campuses across the U.S. in response to the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.

A significant portion of American voters question the necessity of substantial foreign aid expenditures, with 57% expressing concerns about excessive spending on foreign assistance. Despite this sentiment, support for aid to Israel remains relatively strong, with near half of respondents viewing the allocation of $14 billion to West Jerusalem as appropriate or insufficient. Public opinion regarding Ukraine aid has waned, with only 53% of Americans favoring continued military support, a decline from 72% two years ago.

President Biden approved a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on Wednesday, solidifying US support for Ukraine amidst congressional unrest. The aid package includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $26.4 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for conflict zones, and $8.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. The Pentagon plans to dispatch $1 billion in aid to Ukraine within hours, including Stinger missiles and anti-tank guided missiles. Biden emphasized the importance of the aid for national security and global leadership, despite criticism of his support for Israel and the delay in passing the package.

US President Joe Biden met with 4-year-old Israeli-American Avigail Idan, who was released as part of a truce agreement in late November. The meeting served as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of all hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose recent video release by Hamas has raised concerns.