Causes.com
| 11.27.23

Israel-Hamas War Tracker

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Educate yourself on the Israel-Hamas War

Causes.com is your source for up-to-date information about the Israel-Hamas War, including humanitarian efforts and global moves to address escalation in the region.

We'll cover the political, social, human, and regional impacts of the war, along with global calls for a ceasefire, a two-state solution, an end to conflict, and explore the impact of the war on Israeli and Palestinian families. 

Israel and Hamas Agree To Extend Truce

November 27, 2023 

  • Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 48-hour extension of the truce, allowing for more hostage exchanges and humanitarian aid to flow to Gaza. The chief spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry wrote on X:

"The State of Qatar announces, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip."

  • Hamas confirmed in a statement that it agreed to a pause under the same conditions as the previous one.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Three U.S.-Palestinians Shot in Possible Hate Crimes

November 27, 2023

  • Three U.S. students of Palestinian descent were shot near the University of Vermont on Saturday. 
  • An investigation was opened to determine whether the shooting was a hate crime. 
  • The suspect, Jason J. Eaton, was taken into custody and is expected to appear in court on Monday. 
  • All three 20-year-old men — Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ahmed, and Kinnan Abdalhamid — survived the shooting and are receiving medical care. According to the Burlington Police Department, one "sustained much more serious injuries" than the others.
  • The trio attended Ramallah Friends School together, a non-profit Quaker school. Awartani is a current student at Brown University in Rhode Island, Ahmed attends Trinity College in Connecticut, and Abdalhamid attends Haverford College in Pennsylvania. They had just left one of their family's homes when they were shot. A family member said they had attended an 8-year-old's birthday party.  
 

How do you feel about the global response? 

A Hostage Deal Has Been Reached

November 22, 2023

  • A hostage deal has been reached, which will see the release of 50 hostages being held by Hamas in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children being held prisoner in Israel. It will also include a four-day pause in fighting.
  • A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said that this is an “operational pause” rather than a ceasefire and that the final details are still being ironed out. Israel has not confirmed when the fighting will stop.
  • Lt Col Richard Hecht, an IDF spokesperson, said:

“We still have probably, maybe a day-plus before this thing matures, and things can happen in that day. And I assume today is going to be a day of fighting in Gaza.”

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

 

Hostage Talks Progressing

November 21, 2023

  • Qatar's foreign ministry has said that hostage negotiations are at a "critical and final stage."
  • The deal is said to include a multi-day pause in fighting, and the release of 50 hostages in exchange for Palestinian women and children being held in Israel. There are a total of 83 Palestinian women and 380 teenagers under the age of 18 imprisoned by Israel in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, an NGO.
  • WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization was "appalled" by the attack on the Indonesian Hospital, saying that "health workers and civilians should never have to be exposed to such horror."
  • Over 50 journalists have been killed since Oct. 7, in what has been the deadliest time for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking deaths in 1992.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Twenty-Eight Premature Babies Evacuated From Al-Shifa

November 20, 2023

  • Israel has released videos that it claims show hostages and a Hamas tunnel network at Al-Shifa. Israel says the videos are proof that the hospital is the site of a Hamas command center.
  • Twenty-eight premature babies have been evacuated from the besieged Al-Shifa Hospital to Egypt via the Rafah border crossing. The babies are being cared for at Al-Ahli Emirates Hospital in Rafah.
  • The Hamas-run health ministry says the death toll is now above 13,000 since the Israeli invasion began, and that an overnight Israeli air strike on the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza killed 12 people. Indonesia has condemned the attack, calling it a violation of humanitarian law.
  • According to observers, the Indonesian Hospital remains the site of a siege, with armored military vehicles surrounding the building and snipers stationed on nearby roofs. Thousands of people are sheltering in the hospital.
  • Michael Herzog, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., said he is hopeful about an impending hostage release.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Israel Searching Al-Shifa Hospital

November 17, 2023

 

  • According to the Hamas-run health ministry, IDF troops are searching the underground levels of Al-Shifa Hospital. Observers say troops have been questioning patients and staff sheltering in the hospital.
  • Israel said they found military equipment, information, and footage of the hostages during their search. Israel released a photo and video of an “operational tunnel shaft,” which it said was found inside the hospital complex.
  • Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler said:

“We have already found 300 shafts that go into these tunnels, most of them booby trappers, including in the vicinity of that hospital.”

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

 

IDF Continues Searching Gaza Hospital Amid U.N. Condemnation

November 16, 2023

  • The Israel Defense Forces are searching the Al-Shifa hospital for a second day. They say that the hospital harbors a secret Hamas base and subterranean fortifications, but has yet to produce evidence of this publicly. The argument that Hamas has a base at the hospital is central to the IDF's defense of its actions.
  • The IDF said it had taken "operational control" of the harbor in Gaza City.
  • Yesterday, the U.N. Security Council called for an immediate, multi-day humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow much-needed aid to reach civilians. The U.S. abstained from voting on the resolution, which passed without its vote.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

IDF Enters Al-Shifa Hospital

November 15, 2023

  • Israeli forces entered the Al-Shifa hospital overnight. Hundreds of staff and patients remain in the hospital, and some have been shot at when trying to leave, according to witnesses. The IDF went from room to room, questioning people on site. 
  • The IDF says that Hamas is operating a command center under the hospital, a claim Hamas and the hospital staff deny.
  • Israeli troops are continuing what they claim to be the "precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa Hospital, in which they are conducting searches for Hamas terror infrastructure and weapons."

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Multiple Hospitals in Gaza Are Not Functioning

November 14, 2023

  • Israeli forces have reached Al-Shifa hospital while hundreds of people, including dozens of babies, remain trapped inside. Palestinian officials say the hospital is surrounded by heavy gunfire, making evacuation nearly impossible. The hospital has been cut off from electricity, and incubators for premature babies are non-operational.
  • The World Health Organization has said that forcing seriously ill patients to flee hospitals would be akin to a “death sentence.”
  • The IDF has been adamant that Hamas operates bunkers underneath the hospital, a claim denied by both hospital staff and Hamas. 

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Protests Calling For Ceasefire Continue for Fifth Consecutive Weekend

November 13, 2023

  • On Saturday, over 300,000 protesters marched in London, calling for a ceasefire. Event organizers put the number of attendees at 800,000. It was the country’s largest protest since the Israel-Hamas war began. The protest lasted over seven hours and featured speeches and a moment of silence for the children killed in Israeli airstrikes.
  • Thousands of protesters filled Sydney’s Hyde Park on Sunday, calling for a ceasefire. This is the fifth weekend in a row that Pro-Palestinian protests have convened. Pro-Israel groups held a separate event in the city demanding the release of the hostages.

Do you support a ceasefire?

Gaza Hospitals Are Nonfunctional

November 13, 2023

  • The Palestine Red Crescent Society said that attempts to evacuate the patients at Al-Quds hospital have failed due to “continued shelling and shooting” by Israeli forces. They stated that the hospital is no longer operational due to fuel shortages.
  • The World Health Organization says that Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in the Gaza Strip, "is not functioning as a hospital anymore” due to constant gunfire in the area. Three babies have died in the hospital because they could not receive intensive care.
  • On Sunday, the EU condemned Hamas for using medical facilities and civilians as “human shields.”

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

U.S. Continues To Strike Iranian-Linked Militias in Syria

November 13, 2023

  • The U.S. conducted more airstrikes in Syria, targeting facilities used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, according to the Pentagon. 
  • The Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, said the strikes were in response to the "continued attacks" on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria by Iranian fighters. 
  • Austin added that the attacks were ordered by President Biden "to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests." 

Do you support the U.S.'s response?

 

Israel Agrees To Four-Hour Daily Humanitarian Pause

November 10, 2023

  • Israel agreed to a daily four-hour humanitarian pause in its attack on Gaza.
  • The White House said on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the daily pauses as President Biden pushed for a multiple-day break in the assault to negotiate the release of Hamas hostages.
  • Biden said that the agreement to a humanitarian pause had “taken a little longer” than he had hoped and that there was “no possibility” of a formal ceasefire at the moment.  

Do you support the calls for a humanitarian pause? Let your reps know

 

Israel Gives Residents Four-Hour Window to Evacuate Gaza

November 8, 2023

  • Palestinians are continuing to flee Gaza City along the Salah-al-Din Road. Israel gave residents a four-hour window to leave the city, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time, as it prepares for more targeted attacks. The IDF has warned that "time is running out to evacuate," adding that they have destroyed 130 Hamas tunnels since they began the offensive campaign.
  • The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has accused Israeli forces of targeting aid vehicles carrying "lifesaving medical supplies."
  • Kamala Harris had a call with Israel's President Isaac Herzog, in which she reiterated American support for Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism. In the call, Harris also "emphasized the importance of protecting civilian lives and respecting international humanitarian law."
  • Doctors Without Borders lost a colleague to airstrikes in a refugee camp.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib Censured Over Israel Comments

November 8, 2023

  • On Tuesday, 22 House Democrats sided with nearly every Republican lawmaker in censuring Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian-American in Congress, for comments they argue are anti-Israel. 
  • The resolution to formally censure Rep. Tlaib passed 235-188 and said her comments "call for the destruction of Israel" and promote "false narratives."
  • The resolution also condemned Rep. Tlaib's use of the phrase "from the river to the sea," which the Anti-Defamation League has called an antisemitic call for the destruction of Israel. Rep. Tlaib said the slogan was not antisemitic, but rather "an aspirational call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction or hate."

Do you agree with the censure of Rep. Tlaib? Tell your reps

Netanyahu: Israel To Have ‘Security Responsibility’ Over Gaza

November 7, 2023

  • Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will have "overall security responsibility" in Gaza after the war ends.
  • While he maintains that there will be no ceasefire, he referenced short humanitarian pauses:

"As far as tactical little pauses, an hour here, an hour there. We've had them before, I suppose, we'll check the circumstances in order to enable goods, humanitarian goods to come in, or our hostages, individual hostages to leave."

  • The U.N. is decrying the inhumane conditions in the Gaza Strip and confirmed that 70% of residents are now displaced. The agency spoke of the public health crisis:

"UNRWA shelters have reported thousands of cases of acute respiratory, skin infections, diarrhea, and chicken pox."

  • Ninety-three trucks of humanitarian aid were delivered from the Egyptian Red Crescent to the Palestine Red Crescent team on Monday. The Rafah crossing reopened yesterday after being temporarily closed over the weekend due to an Israeli airstrike that hit an ambulance.
  • South Africa has recalled its ambassador and diplomatic mission to Israel, accusing the country of committing genocide in Gaza.
  • A U.N. official said that most residents of Gaza were living on two pieces of bread a day and were begging for water.
  • The World Health Organization has said that over 160 healthcare workers have been killed on duty since the conflict began.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 10,000

November 6, 2023

  • Over 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including 4,000 children, since Israel began its airstrike campaign in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Over 1.5 million people have been displaced.
  • U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said Gaza was “becoming a graveyard for children.”
  • Israel confirmed that its troops had reached the Gaza coastline and split the enclave between “north” and “south” zones in its ongoing ground operation. 
  • Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to refuse to consider a ceasefire until all hostages are released.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Protesters Tell Biden: ‘No Ceasefire, No Votes’

November 6, 2023

  • Tens of thousands of protestors in Washington, D.C., called on Biden to support a ceasefire during a march on Saturday. Protestors chanted:

“Biden, Biden, you can’t hide; we charge you with genocide.”

  • The march drew supporters from cities across the country, with many bus routes to the capital sold out in advance of the event. 
  • Nihad Awad, National Director at the Council on American–Islamic Relations, said:

“The language that President Biden and his party understands is the language of votes in the 2023 elections, and our message is: no ceasefire, no votes.”

Do you support a ceasefire?

 

Israel Refuses a Ceasefire Until Release of Hostages

November 3, 2023

  • Amid world leaders calling for a ceasefire, Netanyahu said Israel rejects the request to halt the attack on Gaza. The prime minister said during a televised address:

"Israel refuses a temporary ceasefire that does not include the return of our hostages."

  • Hamas still holds over 240 hostages that were taken on Oct. 7. 
  • Netanyahu stated this after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called for a pause on the attack so humanitarian aid could get through to injured civilians. 

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Hezbollah Leader Threatens To Escalate Battle

November 3, 2023

  • Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, made a widely anticipated televised statement on Friday that his militia is already engaged in battle along the Lebanon-Israel border and threatened to escalate the fight further. He did not, however, announce that Hezbollah would fully enter the war, which many debated if he would.
  • The U.S. issued warnings to Hezbollah against involvement. Nasrallah said the warnings "will not scare us." In the statement, he declared that he was prepared for all options and said the fighting would not be limited to the scale seen thus far. 

Is the U.S. doing enough to protect civilians?

Biden Calls for a ‘Pause’ to Israel-Gaza War

November 2, 2023

  • U.S. President Joe Biden called for a "pause" in the Israel-Gaza war.
  • During a campaign speech in Minneapolis, a demonstrator heckled Biden, urging him to call for a ceasefire. Biden replied:

"I think we need a pause."

  • Biden said a pause would "give time to get the prisoners out." White House officials later explained he meant both getting hostages held by Hamas out, and getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.
  • After the heckler was escorted out, Biden said the war was a "complicated" matter and recognized the emotion around it. He said:

"This is incredibly complicated for the Israelis. It's incredibly complicated for the Muslim world as well... I supported a two-state solution; I have from the very beginning."

Do you support a ceasefire?

Israel Soldiers and Hamas in ‘Face-To-Face’ Battles in Gaza

November 2, 2023

  • The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said more than 9,000 people have been killed in the Strip since Oct. 7. 
  • Israeli soldiers are in "face-to-face" battles with Hamas as the military continues to advance around Gaza City. The IDF claims it's targeting Hamas infrastructure and minimizing civilian deaths. 
  • Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu said troops are at "the height of battle" in the Gaza ground offensive. A statement released by his office said:

"We've had impressive successes and have passed the outskirts of Gaza City."

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Rafah Border Opens for Initial Evacuation

November 1, 2023

  • Egypt, Hamas, and Israel agreed to a deal mediated by Qatar and U.S. officials to open up the Rafah border crossing to evacuate people trapped in the Gaza Strip. Injured civilians and foreign passport holders, including some Americans, are set to leave.
  • The deal covers "several days" of transfers and up to 500 people per day, according to a source briefed on the matter.
  • Another outage hit Gaza, taking out internet and phone services, and leaving overflowing hospitals desperate for fuel. 

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Protests Continue in D.C., Calling For Ceasefire in Gaza

October 31, 2023

  • Protests are continuing in Washington, D.C., with demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. On Tuesday, protesters interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a Senate hearing, repeatedly yelling "Ceasefire now" when he attempted to speak. 
  • Secretary Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are testifying about the White House's national security funding request of $106 billion, which includes $14.3 billion to Israel's military efforts. 
  • Capitol police arrested 12 people for illegally protesting inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building. 

Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire in Gaza?

Israel Hit Over 300 Targets in Gaza, Including a Refugee Camp

October 31, 2023

  • On Tuesday morning, Israel said it hit 300 targets in Gaza overnight through airstrikes and ground offensives. The Israeli military struck the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, an area where Israel told people to leave for their safety, killing the leader of Hamas' central Jabalia unit, Ibrahim Biari, and other Hamas fighters.
  • The refugee camp is the largest of eight in Gaza. As of July 2023, just over 116,000 Palestinian refugees were registered there by the U.N.
  • The Hamas-run health ministry said that hundreds of people were killed and injured — the exact amount unknown. People are continuing to search the rubble for survivors.  
  • U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a statement saying he is "deeply alarmed" by the intensification of the conflict in Gaza and called again for a ceasefire.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Mob Storms Russian Airport in Search of Jewish Passengers

October 30, 2023

  • A group of locals in Dagestan, Russia, a primarily Muslim region, stormed the Makhachkala Uytash Airport airport in search of Jewish passengers arriving from Israel. 
  • The riots seemed to be fueled by posts on the Telegram account Utro Dagestan, which encouraged their 60,000 followers to interrogate refugees arriving on a Red Wing Airlines flight from Tel Aviv. The account also urged citizens to follow arriving Israelis, photograph their vehicles, and note their addresses. The airport was forced to close as passengers sought refuge on planes or in the terminal.
  • The incident comes as Israel increases its ground operation in Gaza while continuing intense airstrikes.
  • In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:

"[Israel] expects the Russian law enforcement authorities to protect the safety of all Israeli citizens and Jews wherever they may be and to act resolutely against the rioters and against the wild incitement directed against Jews and Israelis."

Should Telegram be accountable for crimes organized on its platform?

Israeli Troops Attack Northern Gaza From Both Sides in a Major Ground Offensive

October 30, 2023

  • Israeli troops attacked northern Gaza from both sides on Monday after starting their major ground offensive on Palestine over the weekend. Israeli military officials said they’ve killed four prominent Hamas operatives and struck more than 600 militant targets. IDF said in an update:

“IDF troops killed dozens of terrorists who barricaded themselves in buildings and tunnels, and attempted to attack the troops.”

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

U.S. Strikes Two Iranian-Linked Militias in Syria

October 27, 2023

  • The U.S. carried out airstrikes on two facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria following drone and rocket attacks against U.S. forces in the region.
  • A statement from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the facilities were used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. President Joe Biden ordered the strikes, which Austin said were "narrowly tailored in self-defense."
  • Austin emphasized these attacks are separate from the Israel-Palestine conflict.
  • U.S. officials said Iranian leaders are ordering attacks on the U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, which started on Oct. 17. American officials are attributing the attacks to Iranian proxy groups operating in the region.

Do you support the U.S.'s response?

What Are the Chances of a Two-State Solution to Israel-Gaza War?

October 27, 2023

  • Observers and leaders have long called for a two-state solution to the ongoing tension and violence between Israel and Palestine. Still, experts believe the Hamas attack has reduced the chances of peaceful future co-existence.
  • The two-state solution is a proposed framework for resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine by establishing separate states for the two peoples. In 1993, the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed on a plan to implement a two-state solution as part of the Oslo Accords. The negotiations showed promise initially but soon broke down, followed by the outbreak of violence in 2000.
  • According to a Pew Research Center poll in the spring of this year, only about one in three Israelis believed peaceful co-existence between two states was possible, which marked a 15% point decrease from a decade ago.
  • The poll showed that only one in four Palestinians favored a two-state solution. Experts believe the level of support has drastically fallen following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 and the rising death toll from the Israeli siege of Gaza.
  • Israel's current government is its most far-right yet, with most leaders vocally opposed to a two-state solution or political compromises that could impact the security of Israel.

Do you support a two-state solution?

Gaza is ‘Strangled’ as Israel ‘Prepares’ For Ground Invasion

October 27, 2023

  • The Israeli military conducted "targeted raids" inside Northern Gaza for the second night in a row, hitting Hamas infrastructure and military command centers. The raids were conducted to "prepare the battlefield" for an anticipated full-scale ground invasion.
  • EU leaders are meeting for the second day of a summit in Brussels to discuss various issues, including the Israel-Gaza War. The EU has announced that they will provide an additional $52 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. The French government is sending 50 tons of support, including medicine, tents, and food, to Gaza. It is due to fly to Egypt on Saturday. 
  • The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed that a 10-person team of medical staff and experts crossed into Gaza today to offer desperately needed care.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

 

Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamc Jihad Discuss Route to ‘Victory’ in Israel

October 25, 2023

  • Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, met top officials from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad today. A Hezbollah statement said:

“An assessment was made of…what the parties of the resistance axis must do at this sensitive stage to achieve a real victory for the resistance in Gaza and Palestine and to stop the treacherous and brutal aggression against our people.”

Is the U.S. doing enough to protect civilians?

Growing Number of Leaders Call for Ceasefire to Israel-Gaza War

October 24, 2023

  • As the Israel-Gaza war enters its third week, global concern about escalating violence has led many observers, lawmakers, and politicians to call for a ceasefire.
  • Thirteen progressive Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Cori Bush (Mo.), have brought a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, urging Biden to facilitate a rapid de-escalation of hostilities.
  • U.N. chief António Guterres has called for a ceasefire to relieve the “epic human suffering” in the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire would provide enough time to release the hostages held in the strip and to allow aid to enter the enclave, according to Guterres. Volker Turk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, has also called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”
  • Save the Children has called for an immediate ceasefire to “prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.”

Do you support a ceasefire?

Death Toll in Gaza Grows, Hamas Releases Some Hostages

October 24, 2023

  • The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said at least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since Oct. 7, including 2,055 children.
  • Hamas has released two more hostages: Israeli citizens Nurit Yitzhak (also known as Nurit Cooper), 79, and Yocheved Lifschitz, 85, who were released on “humanitarian and poor health grounds.” The women were transported by the Red Cross to Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Israel, after which they were reunited with family.
  • John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, said:

“The message was pretty clear to Hamas: ‘release all the hostages.’ That needs to be the first move here. We’re not talking about a ceasefire right now. In fact, we don’t believe that this is the time for a ceasefire.”

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Hate Crimes Grow Worldwide in Response to Israel-Gaza War

October 23, 2023

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  • French police recorded over 320 physical acts of antisemitism and made over 180 arrests in the first 10 days of the Israel-Gaza war. In Carcassonne, the words “killing Jews is a duty” were graffitied outside a stadium.
  • In Berlin, several buildings were spray painted with the Star of David, an act of antisemitic intimidation. A spokesperson from the Central Council of Jews said:

“That is, of course, a particularly painful thing to do in Germany, as it echoes back very directly to the ostracizing of Jews that took place in the 1930s.”

How do you feel about the global response?

Biden: Israel Not Responsible For Hospital Blast

October 20, 2023

  • Biden stated that he received information from the Pentagon that suggested the Israeli Defense Forces were not responsible for the Gaza hospital blast that killed hundreds of people. Aid was supposed to start traveling to Gaza on Friday in an agreement between Biden and the President of Egypt, but help has not moved in yet. 
  • After Biden and Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi reached an agreement to send aid to Gaza, truckloads of resources are waiting to cross into Palestine at the Rafah border crossing. 
  • Over two million Palestinians are in dire need of food, water, and medicine and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the aid. U.N. chief Antonio Guterres called for assistance to be allowed into Gaza immediately. However, he expects the first shipment of aid to enter Gaza in “the next day or so.” 

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Over 300 Arrested in D.C. Protest Calling For Ceasefire in Gaza

October 19, 2023

  • At least 300 people have been arrested near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., during a protest against the Israel-Hamas war. 
  • The number is expected to rise as the full amount of arrests are processed and counted for, authorities said.
  • Most were arrested inside the Cannon House Office, which occupies congressional staffers and does not allow protests. Three people were charged with assaulting an officer. 

Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire in Gaza?

 

Israel-Gaza War: What People Are Saying

October 19, 2023

  • King Abdullah II of Jordan is heading to Cairo to meet with Egypt's president to "discuss means of ending the Israeli aggression on Gaza."
  • U.K.'s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with Israeli Prime Minister Isaac Herzog. A spokesperson for Sunak said the two leaders "agreed on the importance of getting urgent humanitarian support to ordinary Palestinians in Gaza who are also suffering."
  • U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is traveling throughout the region to meet with leaders and "prevent the spread of conflict" in the region. He said:

"It is in no one's interests – neither Israeli, Palestinian nor the wider Middle East – for others to be drawn into this conflict. I am meeting counterparts from influential states in the region to push for calm and stability, facilitate humanitarian access into Gaza and work together to secure the release of hostages."

Do you support U.S. intervention?

Tension Grows Between Israel and Hezbollah

October 18, 2023

  • U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are trying to determine whether the planned ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip could incite Hezbollah to launch a military campaign against Israel from Lebanon in light of a series of clashes along the border.
  • Hezbollah has called for a "day of rage" over the airstrike that hit a hospital in Gaza and killed around 500 people. They blamed Israel for the strike, calling it a brutal crime and a massacre.
  • On Monday, Israel evacuated the residents of 28 villages and kibbutzim in the region and reinforced its northern border with Lebanon. Lebanese civilians in border towns have also evacuated.
  • The U.S. sent a second aircraft carrier group to the region to bolster Israeli defenses and deter any other state or non-state actors from entering the conflict. 

Is the U.S. doing enough to protect civilians?

Israel and Hamas Blame Each Other For the Deadly Hospital Blast

October 18, 2023

  • At least 500 people were killed by an explosion at a hospital in Gaza City, according to Palestinian reports. The hospital was acting as a shelter for many civilians. 
  • Hamas blames Israel for the explosion, while the Israel Defense Forces claim it was caused by a misfired Palestinian militant rocket.
  • Biden is scheduled to visit Israel today to show support for the country and to urge Israeli leadership to consider the humanitarian needs of Gazan civilians.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Spread of Misinformation Online and Hatred in Israel-Gaza War

October 17, 2023

  • An Israeli grandmother's execution was photographed and posted to her Facebook profile by Hamas, where it was seen on her friend's news feeds. Experts have pointed out that gruesome content can work as a recruiting tool for would-be extremists.
  • Video game footage was passed off as footage from the conflict, and images of firework celebrations in Algeria were characterized as Israeli strikes on Hamas.
  • A video of Putin speaking about an unrelated topic featured captions that made it appear as though he was threatening the U.S. and promising to offer military support to Palestine.
  • Fake images of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo holding the Palestinian flag were also circulated.

Are you worried about online hate speech?

Former Hamas Leader Calls For Protests in 'Arab and Islamic Worlds'

October 16, 2023

  • National security advisors are calling on Jewish institutions to be vigilant after a former Hamas leader called for protests in "the Arab and Islamic worlds" on Oct. 13, 2023.
  • The claim originated with former leader Khalid Mashal, who posted online urging for a “Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood,” calling on “Palestinian people, the masses of the Arab and Islamic world, and free people worldwide” to participate in its “declaration of mobilization.”
  • FBI director Christopher Wray told Jewish leaders that his agency is “working to confirm if there is any validity to the call.” Wray continued:

“I am not, in any way, trying to alarm you, but I want you to be confident that the FBI is most assuredly paying attention. We remain vigilant to the potential of this event to inspire violence.”

Are you worried about growing antisemitism?

Murder of Palestinian-American Boy Amid Global Hate Crimes

October 16, 2023

  • Wadea Al-Fayoume, a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, was fatally stabbed by his landlord in Plainfield, Illinois, in a racially motivated hate crime. 
  • Wadea was stabbed over two dozen times in the attack and died in the hospital. A funeral service and burial will be held today in the town of Bridgeview, which is sometimes referred to as "Little Palestine."
  • Wadea's mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, was also attacked and suffered over 12 stab wounds but survived. She was attacked with a military-style knife before running to the bathroom to call the police.
  • The landlord, Joseph Czuba, 71, was charged with hate crimes. The Will County Sheriff's office said:

"Both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis."

Are you worried about the growth in hate crimes?

Israel Drops Leaflets Urging Palestinians to Evacuate

October 16, 2023

  • Israel dropped leaflets over Gaza City, urging Palestinians to evacuate "immediately" to south Gaza. More than a million civilians have been forced to flee their homes. Israel has been carrying out heavy airstrikes and is expected to order an offensive ground attack.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

Israel Will Maintain the Siege Until Hostages Are Released

October 13, 2023

  • Over 338,000 Palestinians have been internally displaced in Gaza. Civilians currently have almost no way of leaving Gaza and face a mounting humanitarian catastrophe.
  • Israel says the siege of Gaza will not end until all Israeli hostages are released.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

The Death Toll in the Israel-Gaza War Hits at Least 2,300

October 12, 2023

  • The death toll in Israel has hit 1,200, and in Gaza, it is over 1,100. At least 22 American citizens and 11 U.N. security staff have been confirmed dead. The U.N. Secretary-General is pushing for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Essential food, fuel, and water supplies have been cut off during Israel's bombardment and blockade. 

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

A Guide to the Israel-Palestine Conflict

October 12, 2023

  • In the morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, murdering hundreds and kidnapping an unknown number of hostages. In response, Israel has launched a retaliatory assault on the small Palestinian enclave.
  • The conflict between Israel - the world’s only Jewish state - and Palestine - an Arab-Islamic state - spans generations and histories. This guide presents the essential information needed to understand this complex and often violent relationship.

Learn how to help Israeli and Palestinian civilians

Israel Orders a 'Complete Siege' of Gaza

October 10, 2023

  • The death toll continues to rise in Israel since Saturday's attack by Hamas: 900 killed, including 260 people massacred by gunmen at a music festival. In retaliation to the attacks, Israel has been striking Gaza, where nearly 600 people have been killed. Israel's defense minister has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip.

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

How to Help Victims and Civilians in the Israel-Gaza War

October 10, 2023

  • Anera, an organization with no political or religious affiliation, has been operating in Palestine and Gaza since 1968. In times of crisis, they provide humanitarian and emergency relief. Consider donating, fundraising, or becoming a volunteer ambassador here.
  • The U.N. has been conducting charitable work in Palestine and Gaza through its Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for decades. Consider a one-time or ongoing donation here.
  • Support urgent donations for Palestinian children impacted by air strikes via the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. Donate here.
  • Support Israeli and Gazan children and families by donating to the well-reputed charitable organization Save the Children.
  • Support the lifesaving efforts of Doctors Without Borders. Ongoing funding enables them to respond quickly to medical humanitarian emergencies. Donate here via a one-off or monthly contribution.
  • The Alliance for Middle East Peace is supporting civilians in the region. They are the largest and fastest-growing network of Palestinian and Israeli peacebuilders, and they rely on international donations.

Donate and spread the word to your community

Over the Weekend, Hamas Carried Out Shock Attacks on Israel

October 9, 2023

  • Rocket attacks from Gaza continue to target Israel. Israel says it regained control of its communities near Gaza, but militant groups remain active.
  • More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, and over 500 people have died in Gaza since Israel began retaliatory air strikes on the area. More than 120,000 Gazans have been displaced from their homes. 
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday:

“We are at war and we will win it.”

How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?