The Senate has passed a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, providing crucial assistance to Ukraine and other war-torn regions. The package includes $47.7 billion for military aid to Ukraine, $9.5 billion in economic aid, and additional funding for Israel, Gaza, and security against Chinese aggression. The bill now heads to President Biden for his signature.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, has strongly condemned United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for failing to hold Hamas accountable for sexual violence committed during conflicts. In a report submitted to the UN Security Council, the omission of Hamas from the list of groups suspected of sexual violence has drawn the ire of the Israeli government.
The US Senate has finally passed a comprehensive three-pronged aid package providing military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, ending months of delays. The package, which includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $26.38 billion for Israel, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, is a significant victory for the Biden administration and a testament to the bipartisan support for the defense of US allies. The passage of the aid package follows months of negotiations between the Senate and House of Representatives, with Republicans initially expressing opposition to the Ukraine portion of the bill. However, a small but growing contingent of Republicans are now supporting a motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson for his opposition to the aid packages.
After months of bitter partisan wrangling, the Senate has passed a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, including $47.7 billion for Ukraine and $15 billion for Israel. The aid package also includes provisions to deter Chinese aggression and force TikTok’s Chinese owner to divest from the popular app. The package now goes to President Biden for his signature.
Amnesty International has accused Germany and other European countries of applying double standards in their approach to Gaza, criticizing Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for not pursuing a human-rights based foreign policy. The organization’s annual report highlights the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, condemning Israel’s collective punishment and indiscriminate bombings as a mockery of international law. Amnesty also warns of the resurgence of authoritarian systems, the erosion of human rights worldwide and the dangers posed by unregulated AI.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to advance a $61 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill has broad congressional support, with 10 more senators supporting it than when it first passed in February. The aid comes as Ukraine desperately needs firepower to counter Russian advances, Israel seeks wartime assistance, and Taiwan faces challenges from China. Republicans gained the support of nine additional senators by adding a bill to ban TikTok in the US. Despite some opposition from conservatives, the package is expected to pass soon and be signed by President Biden.
President Joe Biden will deliver the commencement speech at Morehouse College, Georgia, but faces potential protests over his support for Israel. Despite the invitation being extended in September, before the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, some faculty and alumni have expressed disapproval. Biden’s pro-Israel stance contradicts the pacifism advocated by Morehouse’s alumnus, Martin Luther King Jr. The controversy threatens to overshadow policy priorities highlighted by the Biden administration on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses.
The visit marks Biden’s second consecutive spring address to an HBCU graduating class, following his speech at Howard University in 2023.
Biden’s standing among Black Americans has declined since his inauguration, and the Israel issue has led to protests from progressives. The upcoming election may hinge on his support in battleground states like Georgia, where Trump lost by a narrow margin.
The UK government’s continued arms exports to Israel have raised concerns, particularly in light of the recent conflict in Gaza. Despite calls from MPs to halt exports, the government maintains that there is no clear risk of violating international law. However, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Alicia Kearns expresses questions and concerns about the government’s decision-making process.
In the aftermath of protests against its collaboration with the Israeli government, Google has dismissed a total of over 50 employees. The company’s decision to provide cloud computing and AI services to Israel under a $1.2 billion contract has sparked internal turmoil among its staff, leading to sit-in protests and police intervention. Despite Google’s claims that it only fired individuals involved in disruptive activities, a group representing the workers alleges that over 20 bystanders were also terminated.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon has launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel in response to the killing of two civilians in a strike blamed on Israel in Lebanon’s south. Hezbollah has also carried out drone attacks on Israeli bases and confirmed the killing of two of its fighters. The Israeli army claims to have killed two senior Hezbollah terrorists. The exchange of fire comes amid ongoing tensions and near-daily skirmishes along the Israel-Lebanon border since October 7.
