Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza
International advocacy group Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of war crimes in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In a new report, the group said Israel is using evacuation orders for the “deliberate and massive forced displacement” of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Human Rights Watch also said it has collected evidence that Israel breached the Geneva Conventions and international law by committing the “war crime of forcible transfer [of the civilian population].”
According to the United Nations, 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out a little over a year ago following Hamas’ attack on Israel. That’s 90% of Gaza’s population.
In a statement, HRW claimed Israel has been illegally and deliberately conducting “controlled demolitions of homes and civilian infrastructure” in Gaza, likely permanently displacing Palestinians. The group added, “Israel has blatantly violated its obligation to ensure Palestinians can return home, razing virtually everything in large areas.”
Israel responded to the accusation, saying it is committed to international law and operates accordingly, and that the evacuation orders are to protect civilians from combat. Israel also denied the claim it was actively trying to do maximum damage to civilian infrastructure.
The Knesset passed the measure late Monday, Oct. 28, with a decisive 92-10 vote, setting the legislation to take effect in 90 days.
This law will prevent UNRWA from providing services or conducting activities within Israel’s jurisdiction, impacting aid for over 1.9 million displaced Palestinians in Gaza, who face critical shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
Israeli officials allege that some UNRWA employees have ties to terrorism, linking agency staff to attacks carried out by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the need for accountability, asserting that UNRWA’s presence could compromise Israel’s security. He also noted the importance of maintaining humanitarian aid in Gaza without undermining Israel’s safety.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the legislation could set a dangerous precedent for global humanitarian operations. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres also voiced concerns, urging Israel to reconsider, stating that prohibiting UNRWA’s operations could have severe implications for Palestinian access to basic needs such as health care, education and essential supplies.
The vote by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) against @UNRWA this evening is unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent. It opposes the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.
This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit…
The U.S. and several allies, including the U.K., Germany and France, opposed the legislation, with the U.S. State Department emphasizing that UNRWA plays an irreplaceable role in Gaza, where it provides vital aid to the Palestinian population.
UNRWA, established in 1949, assists millions of Palestinian refugees displaced in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It operates clinics, schools, and food distribution centers throughout Gaza and the West Bank.
Under the new law, UNRWA may need to close its east Jerusalem office, and restrictions on entry permits for international staff could complicate aid coordination in Gaza.
DHS agents approved Tren de Aragua refugee applications, CBP stopped them
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified nearly 600 migrants who the agency approved for refugee visas who may have ties to the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). The Washington Times reported that DHS approved refugee applications for Venezuelan gang members after immigration officers failed to recognize their gang tattoos during the application process.
Customs and Border Patrol agents stopped many of the individuals at the border after agents saw their TdA-affiliated tattoos, according to the report.
“It is egregious that the Biden-Harris administration knowingly continues to admit individuals that belong to transnational criminal organizations whose only purpose is to enter the United States and prey on U.S. citizens,” Emilio Gonzalez, who led U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Bush administration, told the publication.
NBC News previously reported that more than 600 migrants with connections to the Tren de Aragua gang are currently living in at least 15 states across the U.S. At least 100 of those individuals are known members of the gang.
Some TdA members have been involved in or associated with high-profile crimes in the U.S., including the assaults on two NYPD officers. The murder suspect in the case of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has two brothers suspected of being TdA members.
“When you look at the process, unfortunately, they’re just steamrolled through,” a retired U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent told NBC News. “The Border Patrol has created a conveyor belt, an automated system to process them and release them as fast as possible into the United States. We were not asking questions.”
Immigration has become a central issue in the 2024 presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has promised mass deportations if elected, while Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed support for the failed bipartisan Senate border bill.
One year since Hamas attacks on Israel sparked war
One year later, people around the world are marking the anniversary of Hamas’ terror attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war in the Middle East. And Florida is once again on high alert as another hurricane barrels toward the Sunshine State. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
One year since Hamas attacks on Israel started war
It’s now been one year since Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people, taking 250 others hostage and setting off a war in the Middle East that shows no signs of stopping.
In what appears to be a major new offensive, the Israeli military said it struck Hamas targets across Gaza Sunday night, Oct. 6, after issuing evacuation warnings for much of the north. Meanwhile, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv, as leaders of the militant group celebrated one year of war, saying they sent Israel back to “square one, and it is now living an existential war.” They also called for Palestinians to escalate their resistance.
Israel also carried out heavy strikes on Beirut and sent more troops into Lebanon as part of its ground invasion targeting Hezbollah. The terror organization has been attacking Israel in a show of solidarity since Hamas started the war last year.
Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran, which denies having anything to do with last October’s attacks. However, Iran marked the first anniversary by praising the attacks.
Many more people marked the day in a more somber way. Family members of the more than 350 people killed at Israel’s Nova music festival gathered at the site to hold a memorial.
Protests were also held across the globe as millions call for an end to the war. Many protesters are focusing on the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who have seen the brunt of the impacts of this war.
Since last year, Palestinian health officials say more than 41,800 people have been killed in Gaza, including more than 16,000 children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated numerous times that Israel will not stop until Hamas has been wiped out.
Harris interview to air on ’60 Minutes;’ Trump to appear on Fox News
The 2024 presidential candidates are making their presence known this week with just 29 days to go until Election Day.
Vice President Kamala Harris is on a media tour that began on Sunday, Oct. 6, with the Democratic nominee appearing as a guest on Alex Cooper’s podcast “Call Her Daddy.” Tuesday, Oct. 8, she will make stops at “The View,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and “The Howard Stern Show.”
Monday night, Oct. 7, “60 Minutes” will air its election special that includes a pre-recorded interview with the vice president. CBS News released a preview of the interview, showing the moment when reporter Bill Whitaker asked Harris about the United States’ relationship with Israel.
“When we think about the threat Hamas, Hezbollah presents, Iran, I think it is without question our imperative to do what we can to allow Israel to defend itself against those kinds of attacks,” she said. “Now the work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles which include the need for humanitarian aid, the need for this war to end, the need for a deal to be done which would release the hostages and create a cease-fire and we’re not going to stop in terms of putting that pressure on Israel and in the region including Arab leaders.”
“The hospital was great, and I didn’t realize this, I never knew they did — when a president goes to an area, they close the hospital entirely,” he said. “It’s ready for exactly this. I didn’t know they did that, but they did. So, the hospital, I got there, the doctors were outside, the nurse and no people. They literally close it and almost like they expect this. It’s a genius thing, but who would ever think that. And I was so impressed.”
Over the weekend, Trump returned to Butler for the first time since the shooting, holding a rally with his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Monday, Trump is scheduled to hold an Oct. 7 remembrance ceremony at his golf club in Miami. Meanwhile Vice President Harris is set to deliver remarks and plant a tree at the vice presidential residence in Washington, D.C. to mark the anniversary.
Florida braces for Hurricane Milton on the heels of Helene
Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene blasted parts of Florida, another severe big storm is on the way. Tropical Storm Milton intensified in the Gulf of Mexico Monday morning to a Category 2 hurricane, with forecasters predicting it could make landfall on Florida’s west coast on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Residents have begun preparing for Milton, which reports say could reach Category 4 strength before making landfall in the Tampa Bay area as a Category 3.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned of high storm surge and more power outages, and that locations already struck by Helene will possibly be affected by Milton. Helene killed more than 200 people across six states.
Gov. DeSantis warned people who live on the west coast of Florida to be prepared to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton. In fact, some evacuation orders are already in effect for people who live in manufactured homes or on their boats along the Sun Coast.
Supreme Court to hear cases on guns, porn, transgender rights
A new U.S. Supreme Court term begins Monday, with the justices returning to the bench from their summer break to decide on dozens of cases, including those involving guns, the adult entertainment industry and transgender issues.
On Tuesday, the court will hear arguments on a case concerning the regulation of ghost guns. Manufacturers and gun rights groups argue the Biden administration overstepped its authority to require background checks on these types of firearm kits.
Frontier Airlines plane catches fire while landing in Las Vegas
Scary moments were caught on video as a Frontier Airlines plane caught fire while landing at a Las Vegas airport over the weekend. The airline released a statement saying the pilots detected smoke while the plane was in the process of landing Saturday, Oct. 5.
Frontier said all 190 passengers and seven crew members on board were evacuated and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
LeBron James joins son Bronny on NBA court for the first time
Though it was a preseason game, it was still another accomplishment for the elder James, who at age 39 is entering his 22nd NBA season. LeBron James will likely make more NBA history when he joins his son on the court during the regular season.
Adding to the special moment, Sunday was also Bronny’s 20th birthday.
Lebanon’s nearly 900 displacement shelters are almost full amid crisis
United Nations (U.N.) officials warn that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Lebanon. The U.N. revealed on Friday, Oct. 4, that most of the country’s nearly 900 emergency shelters can no longer take people in. Hotels and nightclubs are now opening their doors to those in need.
Beirut and Mount Lebanon reportedly said that their shelters are full. However, U.N. officials said other cities had some space in shelters. Many of the shelters are schools with education put on hold due to escalating violence.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the people in the country’s emergency shelters were children as of Thursday, Oct. 3, and facilities said previously they were operating beyond capacity, according to humanitarian officials.
Additionally, some people in Lebanon are staying on the streets because they are reportedly refugees from other countries and fear being deported.
The U.N. also revealed that roads are jam-packed in Lebanon with people caught in the crossfire between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants. Many are unable to leave the country because of Israeli airstrikes that have cut off Lebanon’s border with Syria.
A hospital was also evacuated on Friday as Israeli shelling knocked out the facility’s service temporarily.
More than 1.2 million Lebanese people have reportedly been forced to flee their homes and more than 2,000 have been killed amid the conflict over the past year.
The strike is over for now, as thousands of dockworkers return to their jobs after a tentative agreement to raise their pay. And why after more than three decades in prison , the Menendez brothers — infamous for killing their parents — might have their case reviewed and the factor it all hinges on. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
Tens of thousands of U.S. dockworkers are getting back on the job after two days of a strike that clogged dozens of East and Gulf coast ports. The historic labor action, which threatened to drive inflation back up, is now on hold until at least January 15.
Thursday night, Oct. 3, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association struck a tentative deal with the U.S. Maritime Alliance over pay. The agreement will increase workers’ wages by 62% over the span of six years.
The agreement is an increase over the Maritime Alliance’s offer of 50% earlier this week, but a compromise for the ILA, which has called for a 77% increase in wages over the same time period.
The new deal would bring hourly pay for top dockworkers to $63 per hour by the end of the deal, compared to $39 an hour under the most recently expired contract.
Dockworkers had also been calling for a total ban on automation, but no deal was reached on that. Sources close to the matter have said that will be the main topic of negotiations between now and Jan. 15.
I applaud the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance for coming together to reopen the East Coast and Gulf ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding.
More Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut
Powerful blasts rocked Beirut Thursday night into Friday morning, Oct. 4, as Israel unleashed some of its heaviest strikes on the Lebanese capital city yet. This comes as Iran’s foreign minister is in Beirut meeting with Lebanese officials over the expanding conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Thursday, Israel ordered more evacuations for villages in southern Lebanon, potentially signaling plans to broaden the ground invasion there. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said an Israeli strike took out the main highway between Lebanon and Syria, which tens of thousands of people have used over the past two weeks to flee the escalating fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
🔴Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Communications Unit, during a precise, intelligence-based strike in Beirut yesterday.
Sakafi was a senior Hezbollah terrorist, who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000. Sakafi invested significant efforts… pic.twitter.com/PH65nh5FLI
The Israeli military also said it killed another top Hezbollah militant, Mohammed Anisi, in a recent strike on Beirut. Hezbollah has not yet confirmed that claim.
Three ex-officers found guilty in Tyre Nichols beating death
A federal jury convicted three former Memphis police officers in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols Thursday, but they were acquitted of the most serious charges. The jury found Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith guilty of witness tampering for covering up the attack. Haley was also convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights.
Nichols died three days after the officers brutally beat him following a traffic stop. The officers now face up to 20 years in prison for the witness tampering convictions while Haley’s civil rights violation conviction carries up to 10 years. Sentencing is pending with a hearing scheduled to determine whether they will remain in custody.
The case has triggered federal investigations into Memphis police practices, and Nichols’ family has filed a $550 million lawsuit against the city and its police department.
In a statement, the assistant U.S. attorney who oversees the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “Tyre Nichols should be alive today.”
35 years later, Menendez brothers’ case under review following claims of parental abuse
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced his office will review the convictions of Erik and Lyle Menendez, nearly 35 years after they were imprisoned for killing their parents in 1989. New evidence, including a letter from Erik Menendez alleging sexual abuse by their father, prompted the reexamination.
Gascón stressed that while the brothers’ guilt is not being contested, the new evidence and changing views on sexual abuse require a review. The attorney for the Menendez brothers argues they’ve been rehabilitated and is seeking a re-sentencing.
A hearing on Nov. 29 will determine the next steps, which could include a new trial or an adjusted sentence.
Country star Garth Brooks accused of rape
A former employee has come forward accusing country music superstar Garth Brooks of sexual assault and battery. In a the lawsuit, the woman said she worked as his hair and makeup artist.
The lawsuit alleges in 2019, Brooks raped the woman during a work trip in Los Angeles.
Before this lawsuit was made public, CNN reported an anonymous celebrity plaintiff — now identified as Brooks — had tried to block the woman from suing and denied the claims.
In a statement released to the media, Brooks said, “For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars.”
If there was ever a night that I really needed this, TONIGHT was that night! Thank you for my life!!!!! love, g pic.twitter.com/q6FFLrJO0a
He went on to say, “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another. We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides.”
Category 4 Hurricane Kirk strengthens, expected to stay offshore
Hurricane Kirk, a powerful Category 4 storm, is churning in the Atlantic, with forecasters warning of dangerous swells that could impact the U.S. east coast, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas by this weekend. Though the hurricane is expected to remain far from land, its waves might cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
NEW: #Kirk is now a major #hurricane with 125mph sustained winds and will strengthen to *near Category 5 strength* over the next couple of days. Certainly thankful it will remain out to sea and no threat to land! #HurricaneKirk#weatherpic.twitter.com/frSGbEgtFe
As Kirk strengthens, Tropical Storm Leslie has also formed in the Atlantic but poses no immediate threat to land.
Meanwhile, the southeast is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which left more than 200 people dead and caused catastrophic damage. Rescue efforts continue as many residents remain without water, power and communication services.
President Joe Biden has visited the region to survey the devastation, pledging federal aid for debris removal and recovery efforts in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Kursk residents feel abandoned as many flee, some regions out of body bags
Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is leaving civilians caught in the middle, and now many are fleeing. The residents said they feel abandoned by Moscow as reported on Thursday, Aug. 22. While many of these Russians blame Kyiv for the recent attack in Kursk, they wonder if their own government truly cares about them and if the Russian military is competent. Interviews also revealed that Ukraine’s surge into Kursk may be turning public sentiment further against Ukraine.
“Attitudes toward Ukraine have significantly worsened,” one Kursk resident told The Moscow Times. “If before there were people who sympathized or held a neutral position, now they’ve sifted to intense anger.”
Kyiv’s infiltration has left at least 31 people dead and 143 others injured. Human rights groups reported that at least 130,000 people have fled the region and 2,000 people are currently missing. Ukraine forces have captured at least 92 settlements in Kursk and have taken hundreds of Russian soldiers’ prisoner.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not yet publicly addressing the incursion. However, state-run media outlets claim that more people are enlisting in the military and that the Ukrainian incursion is “uniting” Russians.
Meanwhile, Kyiv’s military successes have come at a time when Russian casualties are mounting. So many Russian soldiers have died that some regions are resorting to crowdfunding for body bags as municipal funds run dry. One wife of a Russian soldier killed pleaded for help on social media, saying that the Russian Defense Ministry is not transporting the bodies of troops from battle.
Report: Biden administration in talks to allow some Gazan refugees to enter US
The Biden administration is considering admitting certain Palestinians to the United States as refugees, according to documents obtained by CBS News on Wednesday, May 1. These documents revealed discussions among senior officials from various U.S. agencies on the possibility of resettling Palestinians from Gaza. Eligible Palestinians include those who have immediate family members who are American citizens or permanent residents.
One proposal involves using the United States Refugee Admissions Program to welcome Palestinians with U.S. ties who have managed to escape Gaza and enter neighboring Egypt. Another option is coordinating with Egypt to manage the departure of additional Palestinians from Gaza who have American relatives.
Those who pass eligibility, medical and security screenings, and prove they are fleeing persecution, would qualify for refugee status. That would grant permanent residency, resettlement benefits and a path to American citizenship. While the eligible population is expected to be relatively small, these plans could offer a lifeline to some Palestinians fleeing the Israel-Hamas conflict. Thousands have been killed in the conflict, and it displaced hundreds of thousands more people in Gaza.
The White House said that the U.S. helped more than 1,800 American citizens and their families leave Gaza since October. However, officials emphasized that the U.S. categorically rejects any actions leading to the forced relocation of Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank.
This potential policy shift marks a departure from longstanding U.S. refugee practices. Since 1980, the United States resettled Palestinians in small numbers. The U.S. admitted fewer than 600 Palestinian refugees over the past decade.
While many Democrats may support this move, Republicans previously expressed opposition to welcoming Palestinian refugees. Former Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, expressed concerns about national security. He claimed all Palestinians are antisemitic. Former President Donald Trump said he would suspend refugee resettlement and ban refugees from Gaza.
The Biden administration has significantly increased refugee resettlement efforts compared to the previous administration, aiming to admit up to 125,000 refugees in the fiscal year 2024. That is a significant increase from the more than 60,000 refugees resettled in fiscal year 2023.
Michigan asks residents to help house, settle migrants
Michigan is encouraging residents to welcome migrants into their homes to help integrate them into society. Michigan, like many other states, is experiencing an influx of migrants traveling north from the southern border as they await asylum claims.
Shelters in Detroit are over capacity, leading to migrant transfers, which send migrants to hotels or other shelters with room. The city is directly asking residents to help ease the influx.
Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity Department explained how residents can help through a sponsorship program called “Welcome Corp.”
Sponsors would be asked to pick migrant families up from the airport, secure a place for the migrants to stay temporarily, enroll migrant children in a local school and help adults with employment opportunities. Volunteers must commit for at least 90 days.
The U.S. State Department launched the Welcome Corp in 2023. There are partnerships across Minnesota, Massachusetts and New York. The migrants that families sponsor come from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua or Venezuela.
“I’m confident if you join the Welcome Corp, you won’t just change the lives of the refugees you help, you’ll change your own lives as well,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of the group.
Residents are not required to help house migrants, however, similar requests are getting more common across the U.S. as crossings at the southern border increase.
“Expanded refugee resettlement pathways empower more Michiganders to support our state’s growing refugee population and build a more welcoming and inclusive Michigan for all,” Poppy Hernandez, Michigan’s chief equity and inclusion officer, said after news of the state’s volunteer request.
US pauses funding for UNRWA following claims of Oct. 7 attack involvement
The U.S. State Department is pausing funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency following claims that some of its employees were allegedly involved in the Oct. 7 terror attack. The UNRWA provides aid for Palestinians in Gaza, and the U.S. has long been the agency’s biggest donor.
The State Department said around 12 employees were accused of participating in the terror attacks. UNRWA said the accused employees have all been fired as the agency investigates, according to CBS News.
Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. gifted over $900 million in three years. Now, the Biden administration is withholding donations.
The U.S. has been funding UNRWA for decades, excluding under former President Donald Trump, who stopped donations out of concern the agency was “irredeemably flawed.”
The U.N. agency has also faced allegations of being antisemitic. An IMPACT-se report found examples of UNRWA teachers praising the mass murder of Jews.
