Scores of graduating students staged a walkout from Yale University’s commencement exercises on Monday, protesting the Israeli war in Gaza, Yale’s financial ties to weapons makers, and its response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. The walkout drew cheers from fellow students but was otherwise peaceful, with no mention made from the stage.
![Israeli army raids West Bank’s Jenin, Palestinians say seven killed [PHOTOS]](https://ch.jfdi.cc/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/israeli-army-raids-west-banks-jenin-palestinians-say-seven-killed-photos.jpg)
Israeli forces conducted a major operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, targeting armed militants from groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The operation resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians, including a doctor and a teacher. The hospital in Jenin was surrounded as the violence escalated, with heavy gunfire and armored vehicles in the streets. The West Bank has experienced increased violence in the aftermath of the war in Gaza, with hundreds of Palestinians killed, including armed militants and civilians, as well as several Israelis.
The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has led to new developments in Iran and the wider Middle East region. Raisi was a ruthless and conservative leader with a dark history of executing political prisoners and suppressing protests. His death comes at a crucial time, with internal unrest in Iran and Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Questions arise about potential future developments, especially as the Iranian vice president will assume interim leadership and new elections must be held within 50 days. The regime may prefer a similar figure to Raisi, but opposition groups may see this as an opportunity for change. The president’s death could lead to further unrest in Iran, with potential implications both domestically and internationally.
Tens of thousands of Russians who fled to Turkey after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine have been leaving due to residency issues and soaring costs. The number of Russians with Turkish resident permits fell to 96,000, down by more than a third from 154,000 at the end of 2022. Many have headed to Serbia and Montenegro. Turkish inflation hit 70% last month, and basic banking has become difficult due to sanctions. Some Russians have also left due to struggles to get residence permits since early 2023.
The International Criminal Court prosecutor’s office has requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence chief, as well as three Hamas leaders, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The request will be reviewed by a pre-trial chamber composed of three magistrates, who will decide whether to issue the arrest warrants. If issued, the individuals could be arrested if they travel to an ICC signatory state, but the court itself has no means to enforce an arrest. The application for warrants may indirectly influence other court cases and legal challenges related to Gaza.
The United Nations has not received any aid from a U.S.-built pier in Gaza for the past two days after an incident on Saturday in which food was taken from 11 out of 16 trucks before they reached a U.N. warehouse.
Nine protesters from Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Spain are facing deportation from Greece after being arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Athens School of Law. Police detained a total of 28 Greek and foreign protesters on charges of disrupting the operation of a public entity and damaging foreign property. Evidence against the protesters included various items such as leaflets, Palestinian flags, smoke flares, gas masks, helmets, paint cans, and banner poles. While Greek protesters were released pending trial, the nine foreign nationals remained in custody pending a decision on their deportation. Their lawyers have stated that deportation orders have been issued, preventing the defendants from attending their own trial. Pro-Palestinian supporters have been protesting in Greece since Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Greece recently abolished legislation protecting universities from police entry, sparking criticism from those who saw it as a threat to democracy.
The helicopter that crashed in Iran, killing the president and foreign minister, was a Bell 212 model. Bell developed the aircraft in the late 1960s for the Canadian military, and it is used globally for various purposes. The Bell 212 can carry passengers, cargo, and mount weapons. Non-military organizations and countries like Japan, the United States, and Thailand operate the Bell 212. Iran’s current fleet includes Italian-built naval versions of the helicopter. The most recent fatal crash involving a Bell 212 was in 2023 off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Iran has managed to keep its aviation fleets flying through a combination of smuggled parts and reverse-engineering. The accident does not automatically fall under global rules for air accident probes, and it is unlikely that Iran will seek outside help for the investigation.
The cessation of aid deliveries through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip is due to the threat posed by Israel’s military operations in the area. Israel’s military offensive has caused activity to stop at the crossing since May 7, leaving international aid stuck on the Egyptian side of the border and raising concerns about food supplies perishing. Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, has called for Israel to open other land crossings to deliver aid.
Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, was imprisoned by Israel for 23 years before rising to a leadership role in the militant group. He made a speech in December 2022 promising a fierce strike against Israel, which was carried out less than a year later in an assault that killed 1,200 people. Sinwar had a history of punishing collaborators with Israel and has been devoted to the destruction of Israel and killing Jews.