Columbia University is currently experiencing a major crisis with pro-Palestine protests disrupting campus activities. The scheduled concert of musician Alkinoos Ioannidis had to be canceled due to the ongoing demonstrations and police intervention.
A Palestinian rights group, Al-Haq, is challenging British arms exports to Israel due to alleged breaches of international law in the Gaza war. The case will be heard in October at London’s High Court.
The US House of Representatives has allocated billion to Ukraine and billion to Israel, including humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. The war in Ukraine benefits the US economy and Russia controls 18% of Ukrainian territory. Israel continues its genocide in Gaza, with mass graves discovered in Khan Yunis. The International Criminal Court should investigate these war crimes. Israel is preparing for military operations in Rafah with the support of its allies. The geopolitical puzzle favors certain countries, like Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus being overlooked. Cypriots and Palestinians struggle to find justice, but the EU must redefine its objectives and not blindly follow American geopolitical interests.
Dozens of people were taken into custody during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Yale University. More than 40 people were apprehended by police as they blocked traffic around Yale’s campus in New Haven, Connecticut, demanding the school divest from military weapons manufacturers. The protests at Yale and Columbia were in response to the latest escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which began on Oct. 7. The Columbia University president canceled in-person classes to deescalate tensions on its New York campus following the arrest of over 100 protesters who disrupted school activities. President Joe Biden has put the full force of the federal government behind protecting the Jewish community. Student organizers from the Columbia University encampment responded to claims of antisemitism in the pro-Palestinian protests, stating that some individuals did not represent their movement.
The government of Cyprus has indefinitely suspended the processing of asylum applications from people of Syrian origin, citing an “emergency situation due to sudden influxes” from Syria. This decision, made under the Christodoulides Government, includes the use of the National Guard in anti-refugee operations and the suspension of asylum applications for 21 months for Syrians. The government’s measures have been criticized for violating international obligations under the Geneva Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as for contributing to anti-immigration and anti-refugee sentiments. Additionally, the government’s actions have been deemed illegal and disproportionate, with concerns raised about military-style pushbacks conducted with the navy and police.
The European Union agreed to impose sanctions on four individuals and two entities involved in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The entities listed are Lehava and Hilltop Youth, with two leading figures from Hilltop Youth, Meir Ettinger and Elisha Yered, also facing sanctions. Israel captured the West Bank in 1967 and the area has been under military occupation since, with Israeli settlements continuing to expand. Palestinians hope for the West Bank to be part of a future independent state along with Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem won the prestigious 2024 World Press Photo of the Year award for his image of a Palestinian woman cradling the body of her five-year-old niece in the Gaza Strip. The picture was taken in a hospital in southern Gaza where families were searching for relatives killed during Israeli bombing. Salem hopes the award will bring awareness to the human impact of war, especially on children.
The United Nations Security Council committee did not reach a unanimous recommendation on the Palestinian Authority’s application to become a full U.N. member. The Palestinian Authority is expected to push for a vote on the draft resolution recommending its full membership. This move would effectively recognize a Palestinian state, which is currently a non-member observer state. The U.S. has stated that an independent Palestinian state should be established through direct negotiations, not at the United Nations. The Security Council committee was unable to agree on whether the Palestinian application met all the criteria for membership.
The University of Southern California canceled the valedictorian speech of Muslim student Asna Tabassum due to safety concerns and tensions surrounding the Middle East conflict. USC Provost Andrew Guzman stated that the decision was made to protect campus security, as discussions about the valedictorian selection had become alarming. Tabassum challenged the university’s rationale, questioning if the decision was solely based on safety. USC faced opposition from groups like Trojans for Israel and We Are Tov, who called for Tabassum’s removal as commencement speaker, citing her social media profile and past views on Palestine and Israel. Tabassum’s invitation to speak was withdrawn without USC reviewing her speech, leading to criticism and calls for her reinstatement from groups like the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Israeli tanks re-entered parts of northern Gaza and carried out air strikes on Rafah, killing and injuring several people. Tanks surrounded schools where displaced families were seeking refuge, ordering evacuations and detaining men. The Israeli military continued operations in central Gaza, targeting gunmen and destroying terrorist infrastructure. Israel is still imposing restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite some claims of increased aid flows. The Palestinian health ministry reported over 33,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since October.