“Unlawful and Catastrophic”: IDF Begins Forced Evacuation from Rafah

Israel's army on Monday ordered roughly 100,000 people living in eastern Rafah to evacuate ahead of an imminent military assault on the area, terrifying families who have been forcibly displaced to the southern Gaza city in recent months and intensifying warnings of a bloodbath.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped leaflets over Rafah ordering some of its 1.4 million residents to move to a strip along Gaza's coast, a signal that a long-feared ground assault on the overcrowded city is set to begin in the face of vocal opposition from the international community and humanitarian organizations.

The U.S., Israel's top arms supplier, has said it would oppose a Rafah assault without a credible plan to evacuate civilians from the city. Humanitarian groups and analysts have said such a plan is impossible because there is no genuinely safe place for Gazans to go. Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked so-called "safe zones" and designated routes Palestinians have used to flee in compliance with past IDF orders. Here

                                                        Scoop: US put a hold on an ammunition shipment to Israel

The Biden administration last week put a hold on a shipment of U.S.-made ammunition to Israel, two Israeli officials told Axios. Why it matters: It is the first time since the Oct. 7 attack that the U.S. has stopped a weapons shipment intended for the Israeli military. The incident raised serious concerns inside the Israeli government and sent officials scrambling to understand why the shipment was held, Israeli officials said.

President Biden is facing sharp criticism among Americans how oppose his support of Israel. The administration in February asked Israel to provide assurance that U.S.-made weapons were being used by Israel Defense Forces in Gaza in accordance with international law. Israel provided a signed letter of assurances in March. Here

       Manufacturing Famine: Israel is Committing the War Crime of Starvation in the Gaza Strip: Report from B’Tselem.

In this document, we review the current scale of the hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, its short and long term impacts, Israel’s conduct with respect to this issue and the legal implications of this conduct. We rely on the most recent figures and data available.

Based on various reports from international bodies about the situation in Gaza and on testimonies gathered by B'Tselem's field researchers, we unfortunately conclude that for months, Israel has been committing the crime of starvation under international law in the Gaza Strip. Here

More Resources

Tlaib Says 'No Coincidence' Israel Invaded Rafah After Congress Approved More Military Aid Here

Biden ‘Moving the Goal Post’ with Threat to Withhold Bombs from Israel Here

Ex-State Dept. Official on Paused U.S. Weapons Shipment: ‘Significant but Not Cause for Celebration’ Here

The Israel-US game plan for Gaza is staring us in the face Here

“Criminal Act”: Israel Bans Al Jazeera, Largest Int’l News Org. in Gaza, Ahead of Rafah Invasion Here

Locked-In Conflict: Israel’s Repressive Carceral System and the Criminalization of Palestinians was one of the Catalysts for October 7 by Dr. Mandy Turner for Security in Context (report) Here

Chris Hedges: Sermon for Gaza Here

Why Scapegoating UNRWA Must Stop Here

Profs Urge NYT to Probe False Oct. 7 Rape Story Here

What Does it Mean for the US to Condition Aid to Israel? Here

As a Palestinian American, I can’t vote for Joe Biden any more. And I am not alone Here

Refaat Alareer was special, so was his daughter Here

Campus Protests

Six Observations about Campus Protests by Peter Beinart Here

Jewish Organizing at Columbia’s Encampment Podcast by Jewish Currents Here

“200 days?” from Michael Spath, Director of Indiana Center for Middle East Peace  Here

The Campus Protests Make Me Uncomfortable. And They Fill Me with Hope. Video talk Here

Revolt in the Universities - Read by Eunice Wong Here

Open Letter to University Presidents/Chancellors on Divestment Here