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In Protest
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An active-duty airman's death underscored how strongly some Americans oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
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25-year-old Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, on Sunday in what he called an “extreme act of protest” over the Israel-Hamas war. In a video he livestreamed on Twitch, Bushnell can be heard saying he would “no longer be complicit in genocide” and repeatedly shouting “free Palestine.” He later died from his injuries. Bushnell is believed to be the second person in the US to self-immolate to protest the war. His death comes amid differing views on how Israel, with US support, has responded to the conflict.
Explain.
Since the beginning of the war, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests. With the war in its fifth month, Americans are split about Israel’s response. One poll found that 50% of American adults believe Israel’s actions in Gaza have “gone too far,” while about 50% believe that the country's response has “been about right” or has “not gone far enough.” Within the Biden admin, there have been resignations and calls for President Biden to evaluate the US’s support of Israel. Still, one poll found that 46% of Democrats support Biden’s handling of the conflict. Another poll shows that 74% of Jewish voters support Biden’s actions. It all comes as divided viewpoints on the war have also put a spotlight on college campuses and workplaces.
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Hamas’s attack on October 7 killed 1,200 people in Israel, and Gaza’s health authorities say nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war. As negotiations over a cease-fire continue, the US is dealing with internal divisions over its handling of the war.
Developing:
Cease-Fire: Yesterday, President Biden said he’s hopeful that Israel and Hamas will agree to a temporary cease-fire by next Monday — ahead of Ramadan. It comes as Israel’s war cabinet signed off on broad terms that include a six-week pause in exchange for the release of hostages and the entry of aid trucks into Gaza.
West Bank: Yesterday, the Palestinian Authority’s government resigned. The PA runs part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The resignation comes as the US and allies have pressured the PA to create reforms in hopes that it can govern Gaza post-war. For now, the PA’s government is expected to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed.
and also...this
Who is facing mounting allegations…
Diddy, aka Sean Combs. Yesterday, a music producer sued Combs for alleged sexual harassment and assault. Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones says he worked on Combs’ latest album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” between 2022 and 2023. During that time, Jones alleged Combs groped him and forced him to solicit sex workers and perform sex acts with them. The lawsuit also accused Combs of running a RICO enterprise, alleging his son and staff did nothing to stop the harassment or illegal activity. Jones, who says he wasn't compensated for his work on the album, is seeking $30 million in damages. This is the fifth lawsuit in the past year accusing Combs of sexual harassment. A lawyer for Combs called the Jones' suit “pure fiction.”
What’s one step closer to getting its membership card…
Sweden. Yesterday, the country received the stamp of approval from Hungary’s parliament to join NATO. For over a year, Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán — an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — blocked Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. But after Sweden’s PM agreed to give Hungary four new fighter jets, Orbán changed his tune. Now, Sweden has cleared the final hurdle in its way and will end over 200 years of neutrality by joining NATO — a move that’ll further isolate Russia from the West.
What couldn’t come home again…
Odysseus. Today could be the moon lander’s last day. Nicknamed “Odie,” it made a historic landing as the first US spacecraft to touch down on the moon since 1972. Less than a week later, the lander’s expected to lose contact with Earth as its solar panels lose sunlight. Once the moon goes dark, so will Odie. The mission wasn't a complete miss, though. Odie was able to send home images and some data from the moon’s surface. It also managed to deliver scientific instruments NASA sent up to be used ahead of the Artemis missions next year, which could see the first woman and person of color on the moon.
Who’s butting into the Tory-Megan situation (again)...
Whose silver spoon is showing...
Who hit the late-night circuit…
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