Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 60 Palestinians overnight, including in a school sheltering displaced families, according to medics. The strikes come after Iran launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The escalation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes across Gaza and the West Bank have resulted in the deaths of at least 25 Palestinians, including 16 women and children. The attacks have sparked international concern and calls for a cease-fire, while tensions remain high in the region.
Hundreds of protesters, organized by a coalition of feminist and LGBTQ+ groups, marched through downtown Chicago the day before the Democratic National Convention. The rally, initially focused on protesting unjust laws, quickly transitioned into a pro-Palestinian demonstration, drawing a large crowd and prompting a heavy police presence to ensure safety.
A 25-year-old Palestinian woman, Ola Adnan Harb al-Kurd, was killed in an airstrike on her home in Nuseirat, Gaza, while nine months pregnant. Despite her death, doctors were able to perform an emergency cesarean section and deliver her baby, who is now in critical condition due to oxygen deprivation. The baby’s survival amidst the ongoing war in Gaza is a poignant reminder of the resilience of life and the suffering faced by Palestinians.
Israeli forces have escalated their offensive in southern Gaza, resulting in at least 37 deaths. The majority of casualties were civilians seeking shelter in tents outside the city of Rafah. The incident has sparked international condemnation, with several countries recognizing the Palestinian state as Israel’s isolation deepens. The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
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.’
The US Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into the University of Massachusetts Amherst following allegations that the school mishandled harassment against Palestinian and Arab students. Multiple students have reported facing anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab harassment and discrimination, including racial slurs, death threats, and even assault. Despite repeated communication with administrators, the school allegedly responded slowly and inadequately, creating a hostile environment for affected students.
Reports have emerged of mass graves containing hundreds of Palestinian bodies, some stripped and tied, in hospitals raided by Israeli forces in Gaza. Authorities have recovered at least 310 bodies from one grave at Nasser Hospital, while another 30 have been found in two graves in Gaza City. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed horror and called for an independent investigation into the deaths, which may constitute war crimes.
