Latest news with #HamasAttack
Fox News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Columbia professors demand answers as White House finalizes negotiations with Ivy League university
FIRST ON FOX: Several Columbia University professors, faculty and staff members sent a letter to the college's acting president and board of trustees urging university leaders to consider reforms to combat antisemitism on campus as the White House nears a deal to restore funding to the school. The faculty members who signed the letter requested to remain anonymous. The letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, outlines several action items the Ivy League school can implement in a deal with the Trump administration to combat the rise in antisemitic activity the campus has dealt with since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. In March, President Donald Trump rescinded more than $400 million in federal grants to the university due to potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. "We are invested members of Columbia's community seeking to restore the university's moral clarity and institutional resilience," the letter reads. "We are calling for leadership not just in academic endeavors, but in equity, safety, and accountability." "[Columbia] can lead the nation in showing that academic excellence and moral integrity go hand in hand," the group wrote. The key components of what the dozens of signees are seeking include accountability for professors who are pushing antisemitic narratives on students, reinstating and restoring the reputation of faculty members who received reprimands for being outspoken supporters of Israel, reprimanding and issuing consequences for students involved in destructive rioting and protesting, and eliminating curriculum that promotes antisemitism. "The Trump administration must address antisemitic classroom indoctrination and lack of viewpoint diversity, impose real accountability for student and faculty antisemitic conduct violators, reform admissions and hiring, and make necessary leadership changes," Ari Shrage, co-founder of the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association, told Fox News Digital. "The Trump administration has the opportunity to enact real change which will fulfill their promise of eradicating antisemitism," Shrage said. As recently as May, more than 80 protesters were arrested at Columbia's Butler Library, adding to the previous hundreds who have been arrested during intense riots, protests and demonstrations on campus. Fox News Digital spoke to a senior White House official directly involved in negotiations with Columbia University, who said that requests similar to what the professors and faculty called for in the letter could be included in a deal. Such items include updated policies surrounding face masks worn by protesters on campus, reviewing the Middle Eastern Studies curriculum at the school, and ensuring that students are treated equally in an environment that instills American values. The White House also told Fox that there would be examination of racial hierarchy and an oppressor mentality toward specific religious or racial groups. A deal may include changes to hiring and admissions practices that target these groups unfairly, increased transparency for foreign gifts and related disclosure requirements. The Trump administration is optimistic that a deal will be reached in the near future. As for the Ivy League institution, a spokesperson from Columbia told Fox "the University remains engaged in productive discussions with the federal government to meaningfully address their concerns and move forward towards a resolution." Columbia has already taken several actions to address antisemitism on campus since negotiations have been underway, including an announcement from acting President Claire Shipman outlining initiatives to combat antisemitism just last week. "In my view, any government agreement we reach is only a starting point for change," Shipman explained in the community letter. "Committing to reform on our own is a more powerful path. It will better enable us to recognize our shortcomings and create lasting change." While an exact timeline for when an agreement will be reached remains unclear, both the university and the White House confirmed to Fox News Digital that negotiations are productive and progress is being made. Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips can be sent to and on X @MizellPreston
National Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Canada recognizing Palestinian statehood right now would be a 'grave mistake': Israel
The embassy of Israel to Canada says that recognizing Palestinian statehood 'at this time' would be a 'grave mistake.' Article content 'Such a step would amount to an unconscionable reward for the heinous Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 — an attack marked by mass murder and the brutal kidnapping of innocent civilians, including Canadian citizens,' it said in an emailed statement to National Post on Wednesday. Article content Article content Article content 'Rather than advancing peace, it would legitimize violence and severely undermine international efforts to restore stability and security in the region.' Article content Article content The statement comes after chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada Mona Abuamara told The Canadian Press she feels that Canada is getting closer to formally recognizing Palestinian statehood. In an article published on Wednesday, she said the recognition would 'set in stone for Canadians the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.' Article content Abuamara has been in the role, which is to promote and strengthen relations between Palestinians and Canada, since 2021. It is coming to an end after her four-year term. She was appointed by a government that only has control of the West Bank, not the Gaza Strip, CP said. She is still pushing for Canada to take a harsher stance on Israel's actions in Gaza, and has commended Canada for its recent use of 'tougher language.' Article content Article content 'Accountability means everything to the Palestinian people. That's all we are looking for,' said Abuamara. 'Canada could have done better and must do better.' Article content Article content Canada's approach to the conflict in recent years has been to support Israel 'without budging,' she said. Meanwhile, the Palestinian territories received funding for smaller projects, such as police training. The mentality was that the Palestinian territories would be 'managed under the occupation,' she said, adding that she was looking to Canada to 'get rid of that occupation instead, so we could make our own money.' Israel maintains that it withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Article content Abuamara praised the Carney government for making 'stronger, clearer statements,' and mentioned comments made by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. Speaking to reporters in May, Anand said Israel used food as a political tool and that more than 50,000 people have died as a result of Israel's 'aggression.' That number, which cannot be independently verified, was provided by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Muslim British Army soldiers shared graphic helmet-cam videos of murdered and desecrated dead bodies after the Hamas October 7 attacks, court martial told
Two Muslim British Army soldiers shared graphic helmet-cam videos of murdered and desecrated dead bodies after the Hamas October 7 attacks, a court martial heard. Signaller Zakariya Munir and Signaller Mohammed Salah sent on 'grossly offensive' videos capturing the horrific aftermath of the atrocities the day after they took place. The servicemen claimed 'you won't see this in the media' as they shared clips of corpses being kicked and montages of 'dead civilians lying in pools of blood'. The clips were believed to have been filmed from Hamas terrorists after they carried out the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The pair also shared another 'exceptionally violent piece of footage' showing an execution carried out by ISIS extremists. The court martial was told Sig Munir found the videos of the ' war crimes ' and mutilated bodies in the Middle East and sent them to colleague Sig Salah. The soldiers exchanged messages about the content, with Sig Munir telling Sig Salah that they would not be shown in the media. Young father Sig Salah then sent them on to other service personnel. Now, the pair of soldiers have both been dismissed from the Army. Bulford Military Court, in Wiltshire, was told Sig Salah's phone was investigated and they were both charged. Sig Munir was charged with four counts of sending offensive messages on a public network. Sig Salah was charged with three counts. Both soldiers, from the 10th Signal Regiment, denied the offences but were convicted by court martial. Sig Munir and Sig Salah had served in the armed forces since 2021 and 2019 respectively. Sig Salah has a three-month old son with his wife. October 7, 2023, saw Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launch coordinated attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel. It was the first invasion into Israel since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Around 2,800 people were killed. Lieutenant Colonel Felicity Bryson, prosecuting at Bulford Military Court, said: 'The case concerns messages sent by Sig Munir to Sig Salah and then sent to other personnel. 'They depicted real scenes of brutality during the October Hamas attacks. 'On October 8 Sig Munir said he had a video of the attack and that they won't be shown in the media. 'The video was taken from a head cam from the perspective of an irregular fighter. 'They show faces and bodies of corpses being searched and being kicked by the cameraman. 'Sig Munir asked whether he wanted to see another one, saying it was a bit graphic though. 'He asked whether he was on Telegram, saying it was all on there. 'Sig Munir sent a video showing montages of soldiers in barracks interspersed with dead civilians lying in pools of blood. 'He later sent a video of a group of young men shoving and urinating on elderly men who had their heads bagged and hands tied.' One of the videos was an ISIS execution, it was heard. Lt Col Bryson said: 'On October 31 Sig Munir sent a video of a group of men with a group of detainees kneeling behind them. 'Each stepped forward and executed them with a single gun shot. It was an exceptionally violent piece of footage. Sig Salah did not send this footage on. 'Sig Salah's phone was later explored and an investigation was launched.' Fiona Edington, defending for Sig Munir, said: 'He is a young and naive soldier who has become susceptible to peer pressure. 'His Colonel said he is a developing soldier who made a mistake and is showing clear signs of learning. He has a lot to offer to the British Army.' James Hay, defending for Sig Salah, said: 'Sig Salah suffers from extreme anxiety. His arrest led to instances of vomiting and hyperventilating. 'His priority is now the welfare of his wife and young son.' Judge Advocate General Alan Large dismissed both soldiers. Judge Large said: 'You sent messages to each other about the October 7 attacks. There is nothing sinister about that. 'However you then contacted him with videos saying 'You won't see this in the media'. 'This all happened in the context of events that were globally important. You sent these grossly offensive videos in the immediate aftermath of these events. 'The videos showed bodies that had been violated and it is highly likely that they were taken by those who had committed murder and war crimes. 'The last video actually showed people being murdered. 'You were both serving members of the British Army and when you sign up for that there are certain values that you must adhere to. 'There were plenty of opportunities for you to seek advice but you decided to distribute the videos. You must have realised that these videos could have been distributed further.'
ABC News
28-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Israeli protesters demand end to Gaza conflict
Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Florion Goga
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Seven Israeli soldiers killed in Hamas attack in Gaza
Seven Israeli soldiers have been killed in a Hamas attack in the southern Gaza Strip , the Israeli military said on Wednesday, one of the deadliest incidents for the force in months. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks have killed 74 people in the Palestinian territory over the previous 24 hours, according to local health authorities on Wednesday. The seven Israeli soldiers, in the 605th combat engineering battalion, were killed on Tuesday after militants planted a bomb on their vehicle while they were driving in Khan Younis, causing it to catch fire. Hamas later claimed responsibility for the attack. 'Rescue forces and helicopters were dispatched to the scene and made attempts to extract the soldiers but were unsuccessful,' said Brig Gen Effie Defrin, an Israeli army spokesman, on Wednesday. He added that the 605th battalion was finding and demolishing tunnels, as well as killing militants, in Khan Younis. READ MORE Their deaths brought the total number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since October 7th, 2023, to 879. More than 56,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza by Israel, according to the health ministry, since the October 7th, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. [ Gaza's last hospitals battle to save patients amid severe depletion of life-saving medical items Opens in new window ] At least 40 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza were shot by Israeli forces on Tuesday, local medics and officials said. The incident comes as Israel ends its war with Iran, agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday. Fighting started anew in Gaza in March, when Israel restarted its war after refusing to move to a second phase of a ceasefire, which could have led to a more permanent truce. Since then, negotiations for a second ceasefire have borne little progress, with Hamas insisting on a total end to the war in Gaza – a demand Israel has rejected. Since March, humanitarian conditions in the beleaguered strip have deteriorated. Famine-like conditions reign after Israel imposed a nearly two-month siege on any humanitarian aid into the country. Unicef warned last week that 60 per cent of water production facilities in Gaza were not functioning and that there was a 50 per cent increase in acute child malnutrition from April to May. More than 500 people have been shot dead by Israeli forces as they travelled to get food from a new US- and Israel-backed private organisation called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Chaos has reigned as hungry Palestinians have had to walk miles and navigate the complicated rules that the GHF and Israel have imposed to access food, with almost daily scenes of Israeli soldiers shooting dozens of people at the sites. [ 'We are being slaughtered': Gazans risk their lives on desperate journeys for food Opens in new window ] The GHF has been condemned as potentially being complicit in war crimes, for what aid groups have alleged are its violations of the principles of neutrality and independence, pillars of humanitarian work. On Wednesday, US president Donald Trump said that US strikes on Iran – which targeted three nuclear facilities – could help lead to a breakthrough on Gaza ceasefire negotiations. 'I think great progress is being made on Gaza. Because of the attack that we made, I think we're going to have some very good news. I think that it helped a little bit, it showed a lot of power,' Mr Trump said at a press conference at a Nato summit in the Netherlands. On Tuesday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement calling for the ceasefire with Iran to be expanded to Gaza. 'We call on the Government to engage in urgent negotiations that will bring home all of the hostages and end the war. Those who can achieve a ceasefire with Iran can also end the war in Gaza,' the forum said in a statement. – Guardian
