All articles tagged with #israel palestine
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the interception of a Gaza flotilla and called for an independent investigation, while denouncing Itamar Ben Gvir’s video of his encounter with flotilla activists; Ottawa has summoned the Israeli ambassador as Europe weighs sanctions, underscoring heightened tensions in Canada’s approach to Israel and Gaza.
Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich says the ICC prosecutor sought a confidential arrest warrant against him and threatens retaliation against the Palestinian Authority, citing his order to evacuate the Bedouin village Khan al-Ahmar. The ICC process is confidential and Israel is not a member of the court, though the Palestinian territories are, allowing potential scrutiny of actions in Gaza and the West Bank amid broader tensions and sanctions on Israeli officials.
President Catherine Connolly said she is “very proud” of her sister, Margaret Connolly, who was detained by Israeli forces aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza; at least six Irish activists were detained as Israeli troops intercepted vessels south of Cyprus, a development that could strain Ireland–Israel relations. Dublin is monitoring the situation while Israel calls the flotilla a provocation. Margaret released a video claiming she has been kidnapped and is being held in an Israeli prison; the flotilla had departed Marmaris, Turkey, with some ships from Italy.
At Cannes, Javier Bardem defends his Gaza statements, says genocide is a fact, and asserts Hollywood’s political climate is shifting thanks to younger generations; he acknowledges fear of backlash but believes those drafting a blacklist will be exposed and face consequences.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked Nakba Day with a post that included a video interview of a Palestinian resident and images of a 1936 Zionist-era poster, prompting pushback from Israeli activist Hen Mazzig who said the post weaponizes trauma and erases another narrative, highlighting Mamdani’s long-standing pro-Palestinian stance and DSA ties amid ongoing Israel-Palestine debates.
Dozens of pro-Israel activists protested outside the New York Times building in NYC in response to a Times report detailing alleged sexual violence against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including calls for journalist Nicholas Kristof to be fired and accusations that the paper is spreading antisemitic canards. The Times stood by the article, and Israel said it would sue. The dispute comes amid documented allegations from human rights groups and a UN inquiry about sexual violence by Israeli officers against Palestinians, fueling ongoing debate and protests.
Amnesty International chief Agnès Callamard criticized the European Broadcasting Union for not suspending Israel from Eurovision 2026, calling it cowardly and a double standard while Israel’s actions in Gaza persist. She argues the contest should not provide a platform to normalize Israel’s conduct amid Palestinian suffering, noting protests by Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland. The piece references ongoing Gaza violence, including about 760 Palestinians killed since Oct 2025, and cites Israel’s broader occupation and apartheid. Five broadcasters withdrew in protest, and the Eurovision final is set for Vienna on May 16, 2026, after semi-finals on May 12 and 14.
The European Union approved asset freezes and travel bans on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank and on Hamas members, a move enabled by Hungary’s new government backing. The sanctions come amid criticism of settlement expansion and escalating violence, with the EU also weighing broader steps such as a possible settlement-product ban, though achieving unanimity among member states remains a challenge.
Israel plans to release two Gaza flotilla activists, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, to their home countries after detention in Israel following the Global Sumud Flotilla. They will be handed over to immigration authorities for deportation; rights group Adalah says they were held without charges, subjected to isolation and a hunger strike, amid accusations of links to terrorist groups, while Israel denies abuse and emphasizes adherence to international law.
Four Humboldt County volunteers sailed with the Global Sumud Flotilla toward Gaza. In a nighttime interception off Crete, the Israeli navy seized 22 boats, drawing criticism that the actions violated international maritime law. Humboldt participant Silas Beaver was detained and later released in Turkey after describing being held at gunpoint and witnessing injuries; two steering-committee members, Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek, remain in Israeli custody on hunger strike. Other Humboldt sailors, Sacha Marini and Greg Terry, sheltered in Greek waters as the flotilla presses on. About 180 people were detained with several hospitalized; 47 of the flotilla’s boats remained at sea and 51 were sailing in real time, as protests and international condemnation mounted, with Spain, Turkey, and the UN among those criticizing the interception. The flotilla maintains its humanitarian aim, insisting it is independent of governments and continuing toward Gaza.
Melissa Barrera says she was canceled by Hollywood after speaking out about Gaza and criticizing Israel, losing her lead role in Scream 7 and being dropped by her agency. After a dark period with few offers, she staged a comeback on Broadway in Titanique and is building a production company, arguing that women and people of color face reprisals for speaking out. She credits a few allies, including Boots Riley, with helping restart her career and intends to assemble future projects with like-minded collaborators.
Israel’s West Bank operations were described in leaked remarks by Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth as “killing like we haven’t killed since 1967,” including the shooting of 42 Palestinian stone-throwers and a justification of discriminatory military justice against Palestinians while settlers face different standards. He also cited a looser set of rules at the separation barrier (shooting suspects in the knee) to deter crossings and framed the conflict as a “survival of the fittest” struggle. The statements drew Haaretz criticism of apartheid-like practices, amid escalating settler violence; UN data say 230 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2025.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff confronted pro-Palestinian protesters who surrounded his car after an on-campus Israel-Palestine debate; Cornell released its own footage showing a tense parking-lot encounter and argued protesters harassed him, while Kotlikoff called the behavior harassment and intimidation aimed at silencing speech. The incident highlights ongoing campus tensions over Israel and comes amid Cornell’s protest-controls and a $60 million federal settlement over antisemitism allegations.
Israel’s top West Bank commander Avi Bluth defends looser engagement rules and a discriminatory approach toward Palestinians, claiming deaths are at levels not seen since 1967, as UN data show over a thousand Palestinians killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since Oct 2023; the piece also highlights settler violence and outposts, and a government grant to settlers that Peace Now says expands settlements, drawing criticism and calls to fire Bluth.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff says he was harassed after a group followed him to his car and surrounded it in a campus parking lot following an Israel-Palestine debate event. Surveillance video shows him backing out of the space to exit as protesters shouted, while some students say the questioning was peaceful and he escalated the situation. The incident occurred April 30; university officials have not clarified police reports, and Fox News says it reached out to Cornell and student groups for comment.