School's back in session ... and so are the campus protests over the Gaza war
School's back in session ... and so are the campus protests over the Gaza war
Also: Mosquito viruses, a new Gen Z queen, and AI that scans your genitals
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Hamas killed 6 hostages in cold blood. But Israel is still a source of anger for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza
As students head back to campus, the war in Gaza weighs heavily on many minds. Last week, Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, a brutal reminder of the human toll of the war. Yet, as protests pop up on college campuses across the U.S., most of the anger seems directed at Israel, not Hamas. This tension reveals the complex nature of the conflict — one in which everyone, from innocent civilians to hostages, is suffering, while the world struggles to find a path forward.
The news of Hamas executing six Israeli hostages shocked the world. These individuals had been held in Gaza’s tunnels for nearly a year, with their families holding out hope for their safe return. When Israeli forces discovered their bodies last weekend, grief spread across Israel. Families who had clung to the possibility of a hostage deal were devastated.
At the same time, on campuses like Columbia University, protests have flared up again as students return for the new semester. Pro-Palestinian activists are calling for boycotts, chanting slogans, and accusing universities of complicity in the violence against Gaza. For these activists, the focus is largely on Israel’s military actions and the thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians who have died during the conflict.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the longest and most deeply rooted international struggles in modern history, and Israel’s military operations in Gaza have drawn widespread criticism for years. Protests on campuses and beyond often center around the deaths of Palestinian civilians, who have faced bombings, displacement, and a lack of access to basic needs due to the war.
For many activists, Israel’s actions are seen as disproportionate and harmful to the most vulnerable in Gaza. They view Israel as the more powerful player in the conflict, one that should bear the responsibility of protecting civilians.
But the situation is far more complex. Israel, under constant threat from Hamas, is also dealing with its own casualties, including more than 1,100 Israelis killed on October 7 and the hostages executed last week in cold blood.
While protests are making headlines, there’s another disaster continuing in Gaza: a deepening humanitarian crisis. The war has shattered Gaza’s infrastructure, leaving many people without clean water, electricity, or access to basic healthcare. Diseases are starting to spread, and the situation is quickly spiraling out of control.
One of the most alarming developments is the resurgence of polio. A disease that was nearly eradicated globally is making a comeback in Gaza, particularly among children who haven’t been able to get vaccinated due to the breakdown of the healthcare system. This week, Israel and Hamas agreed to a brief pause in fighting to allow humanitarian organizations to deliver vaccines, but it’s a Band-Aid on a much larger wound. The reality is that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, and with every day that passes, more lives — particularly those of children — are at risk.
As the humanitarian crisis worsens, time is also running out for the remaining hostages still held by Hamas. The deaths of the six hostages last week were a painful wake-up call. Negotiations for a ceasefire or a hostage release have stalled, and it’s becoming clear that Hamas’s patience is wearing thin. With every passing day, the chances of securing their release are slipping away.
In Israel, families of the remaining hostages are demanding action. They’ve taken to the streets, blocking highways and protesting in front of government buildings, pleading for a deal to be made before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking for Gaza civilians as well. The longer the war drags on, the deeper the humanitarian crisis becomes. Clean water is running out, and basic medical supplies are scarce, while diseases like polio threaten to spread. It’s a stark reminder of how, in war, it’s often the most vulnerable who suffer the most.
More from Zivvy:
Dig Deeper:
↪ Israeli hostage deaths ‘changed everything’ about Gaza cease-fire talks (Politico)
↪ American woman shot and killed at West Bank protest (NYT)
⚡ Zivvy highlights
↪ Related: How a disease the world (mostly) vanquished reared its head in Gaza (Vox)
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↪ Related: Why is the loneliness epidemic so hard to cure? (NYT)
🌎 Around the world
➤ With new Taliban manifesto, Afghan women fear the worst
Three years into its rule, the movement has codified its harsh Islamic decrees into law that now includes a ban on women’s voices in public. (NYT)
↪ Related: Afghan women are singing in defiance of Taliban law silencing their voices (Independent)
➤ Meet Youth Demand, a new protest movement taking on the British government
‘Politicians don’t care about our Instagram stories, but they do care if we’re causing material disruption that hits them where it hurts.’ We spoke to a new activist group fighting for climate justice and an arms embargo on Israel (Dazed)
🗳️ 2024 Election
➤ Poll: Half of Gen Z voters support Harris, one-third back Trump
The NBC News Stay Tuned Gen Z Poll powered by SurveyMonkey shows Harris with a significant lead over Trump, but not quite the deficit Trump suffered in 2020. (NBC News)
↪ Dig deeper: Young voters harbor deep worries about inflation, debt and housing (NBC News)
➤ Trump called for IVF to be free. how would that work?
Getting the expensive fertility treatments covered would be possible, but an uphill battle, health policy experts said. (NYT)
➤ Historian who accurately predicted 9 of last 10 presidential elections makes his 2024 pick
Allan Lichtman, the historian who correctly predicted the outcome of 9 out of the 10 most recent presidential elections, has made his guess on who will reclaim the White House this year. (USA Today)
➤ Kamala Harris proposes $50,000 tax break for small businesses
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, on Wednesday proposed policies she hopes will help spur small business creation across the U.S., and also announced a break with one of President Biden's policies by calling for a smaller increase than he has proposed on capital gains taxes. (CBS News)
➤ Trump thanks Brittany Mahomes for ‘defending’ him. Taylor Swift fans are sure to take notice.
The Republican presidential nominee said the “beautiful” wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wants to save the United States from doom. (MSNBC)
↪ More: Taylor Swift sits separate from Brittany Mahomes at Chiefs game amid Trump support controversy (Fox News)
🗳️ More Politics
➤ A louder voice in fighting abortion bans: Men in red states
More men are speaking out in defense of reproductive rights because of harrowing experiences that wives or partners have suffered when a pregnancy went awry. (Washington Post)
➤ Left-wing misinformation is having a moment
For years, the discussion about misinformation online has focused on falsehoods circulating on the American right. But in recent weeks, a flurry of conspiracy theories and false narratives have also been swirling on the left. (Yahoo News)
➤ Donald Trump’s youngest son has enrolled at New York University
Trump revealed the decision in a video interview with the Daily Mail, confirming months of rumors that his son would attend the university’s Stern School of Business, which ranks among the nation’s top business schools. (AP)
↪ ICYMI: Barron Trump is helping his Dad win over Gen Z men (Zivvy)
🗞️ In other News
➤ Teen charged in Georgia school shooting and his father to stay in custody after hearings
The 14-year-old suspect in a shooting that killed four people at a Georgia high school and his father, who was arrested for allowing his son to have a weapon, will stay in custody after their lawyers decided not to seek bail Friday. (AP)
⚕️Health and wellness
➤ Young girls are using anti-aging products they see on social media. The harm is more than skin deep
When she was in fifth grade, Scarlett Goddard Strahan started to worry about getting wrinkles. (AP)
➤ Covid associated with increased risk for hearing loss in young adults.
The incidences of hearing loss and sudden deafness were higher for people who had covid than those who did not, a new study reports (Washington Post)
👩💻 Technology
➤ Would you trust AI to scan your genitals for STIs?
The 19th spoke with sexual health educators and computer science researchers about how to assess claims made by AI-powered apps. (The 19th)
➤ That Chase “money glitch” hack was just fraud
TikTok probably can’t teach you to game the financial system like a rich person, but it might teach you crime. (Vox)
⭐ Gen Z in the Spotlight
➤ New Zealand’s Maori celebrate new era as 27-year-old queen is anointed
Nga Wai Hono i te Po Paki takes on the ceremonial role amid heightened tensions with the conservative government, which is rolling back “race-based” policies. (Washington Post)
🍿Pop Culture
➤ Hawk tuah girl Haliey Welch to launch podcast ‘Talk Tuah’ from Jake Paul’s media company
"I'm just getting started, baby," the viral star says about the weekly project from Betr that debuts later this month and includes such guests as Whitney Cummings and Josh Richards. (Hollywood Reporter)
➤ Hailey Bieber is being praised after her makeup brand responds to criticism of its lack of inclusive dark skin shades
“Hailey, thank you for reaching out and listening to me, and treating me like a human.” (Buzzfeed News)
📡 On the radar
➤ Selling America: The Army’s fight to find recruits in a mistrustful, divided nation
Across the country, recruiters were struggling to find soldiers among a shrinking pool of qualified young people. (Washington Post)
➤ Black students are still kicked out of school at higher rates despite reforms
The past decade has seen some progress in lowering suspension rates for Black students. But massive disparities persist. (AP)
➤ Tuition: $9,400. Dorm Room Interior Designer: $10,000?
Some students arrive on campus expecting certain comforts. And they, or their parents, are willing to pay thousands to settle in. (NYT)
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