war in Gaza

Israeli army raids West Bank’s Jenin, Palestinians say seven killed [PHOTOS]

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Israeli army raids West Bank’s Jenin, Palestinians say seven killed [PHOTOS]

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.

Parents of German-Israeli woman whose body found in Gaza thankful to have a grave

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Parents of German-Israeli woman whose body found in Gaza thankful to have a grave

Shani Louk, a 23-year-old tattoo artist, was killed in Hamas’ attack on southern Israel. Her body was recovered months later from Gaza and will finally be laid to rest, bringing comfort to her parents. Shani’s funeral will be held on her mother’s birthday, providing solace to her family. Shani was doing what she loved at the Nova music festival before the attack and likely did not suffer. The attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 250 abductions, leading to an Israeli military offensive against Hamas. The conflict has caused widespread destruction in Gaza, with thousands dead and many displaced. Shani’s parents express pain at the misinformation displayed at some U.S. campus protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, emphasizing the personal impact of the tragedy.

FIFA orders legal review of Palestinian call to suspend Israel from competitions

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FIFA orders legal review of Palestinian call to suspend Israel from competitions

FIFA has ordered a legal evaluation of a proposal by the Palestinian Football Association to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza. The Palestinian proposal accuses the Israel Football Association of complicity in violations of international law and discrimination against Arab players. The request for sanctions comes two years after FIFA suspended Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed shock over the situation and promised to address the issue at an extraordinary meeting in July.

Palestinians mark 1948 Nakba in the shadow of war in Gaza

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Palestinians mark 1948 Nakba in the shadow of war in Gaza

Palestinians commemorated the 1948 “Nakba” on Wednesday, marking the time when hundreds of thousands were dispossessed of their homes in the war at the birth of the state of Israel. The Nakba has been a defining experience for Palestinians for more than 75 years, shaping their national identity. This year’s commemoration focused on the plight of around two million Palestinians in Gaza, most living in temporary shelters after being displaced by the Israeli campaign. More than 5.9 million Palestinians are currently registered as refugees in various locations, including refugee camps that have grown into urban townships. Events marking the Nakba anniversary were also held in Ramallah, where a student was killed in a clash with Israeli forces.

Netanyahu presses bill on drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into army

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Netanyahu presses bill on drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into army

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present a bill to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military to a ministerial committee. The issue is sensitive due to ongoing conflicts and high casualties among secular draftees. Ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s coalition oppose the exemptions, leading to protests. Economists argue that the conscription waiver keeps ultra-Orthodox out of the workforce, creating a welfare burden. Israel’s Arab minority is also largely exempt from the draft.

Israel protests after Nobel laureate denounces Gaza invasion at Vatican

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Israel protests after Nobel laureate denounces Gaza invasion at Vatican

Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See protested against Yemeni Nobel Prize winner Tawakkol Karman for accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza during an event at the Vatican. Israeli embassy rejected the accusations as “lies” and criticized the anti-Semitic speech. The tension between the Vatican and Israel has increased since the war in Gaza, with Jewish groups accusing Pope Francis of not recognizing Israel’s actions as self-defense.

Campus Gaza rallies may subside, but experts see possible ‘hot summer of protest’

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Campus Gaza rallies may subside, but experts see possible ‘hot summer of protest’

About a dozen students were arrested during a sit-in at a Denver college campus, but emerged from detainment to cheers from fellow pro-Palestinian protesters. The protesters are demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, university divestment from companies profiting from the war, and amnesty for disciplined or fired protesters. Academics believe that maintaining the energy of the movement once students leave campus will be a challenge, but the protests have spread across the country and to smaller universities, showing staying power. The movement may evolve or fade away, but students in Denver are committed to continuing their protests until their demands are met, even through summer break and into the fall. Police responses to protests have ignited a sense of activism in a new generation of students, and there are expectations for a summer of protest leading up to the presidential election. Michael Heaney, a lecturer in politics, believes that the protests are just one tactic in a wider movement and that they could grow if Israel’s offensive in Gaza continues. Despite the potential for the campus to become a ghost town after graduation, student protesters in Denver are determined to continue their encampment.

Who are Israel’s main weapons suppliers and who has halted exports?

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Who are Israel’s main weapons suppliers and who has halted exports?

The United States suspended a shipment of heavy, bunker-busting bombs to Israel amid concerns about their impact in dense urban settings like Rafah. Germany increased defense export approvals for Israel after an attack by Hamas, but has since approved fewer exports due to international criticism. Italy halted new export approvals to Israel since the start of the Gaza war, with the last orders delivered in November. Britain grants export licenses for defense equipment to Israel, while Canada stopped licensing arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with humanitarian law. The Netherlands halted shipments of parts for F-35 jets to Israel due to concerns about violations of humanitarian law.

Pro-Palestinian protesters build barricades at Amsterdam university

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Pro-Palestinian protesters build barricades at Amsterdam university

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Amsterdam built barricades using desks and railings to block the entrance until the institution severs all ties with Israel. Riot police knocked down barricades at another UvA site and detained 169 people. The protesters are part of a wave of sit-ins and actions at universities in Europe against Israel’s war in Gaza. The university has exchange programs with three universities in Israel halted due to security concerns and cooperates with Israeli scientists or companies in eight European research projects. Ireland’s Trinity College Dublin announced it would divest from Israeli companies linked to settlements in occupied Palestinian territory following student protests.

Hezbollah says its drone hits northern Israeli town, two soldiers killed

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Hezbollah says its drone hits northern Israeli town, two soldiers killed

Hezbollah said on Monday it carried out a drone attack on an Israeli military position near the northern Israeli town of Metula. The Israeli military later confirmed two soldiers were killed in the attack. Iran-backed Hezbollah also said it had sent dozens of rockets towards military targets across the border with Israel. Israel and Hezbollah, … Read more