A Vermont federal judge ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green-card holder and Columbia University student, who had been detained by the Trump administration for deportation despite facing no criminal charges. The judge ruled that the government failed to justify Mahdawi’s continued detention, citing a lack of evidence suggesting he was a flight risk or danger, and noting that his detention could chill protected speech. Mahdawi’s release is pending the resolution of his case, allowing him to continue his studies and legal representation. This decision follows legal challenges by other Palestinian activists facing similar deportation orders based on an obscure foreign policy statute. The case highlights concerns about the potential for retaliatory actions against those advocating for Palestinian human rights.
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Following a ceasefire ending a 15-month Israeli offensive, thousands of displaced Palestinians returned to northern Gaza to find their homes and infrastructure decimated. Asma Qaoud, among those returning, described widespread destruction and the loss of her brother, while her husband remains in Israeli custody. The UN estimates that 90% of Gaza’s population was displaced, and 60% of its infrastructure destroyed. The death toll from the conflict exceeds 47,000, with many still missing.
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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that it is systematically removing Palestinians from northern Gaza and they will not be allowed to return. The IDF claims there are no civilians left in the north and that humanitarian aid will only be allowed to enter the south. This action has been condemned by international humanitarian law experts as a war crime, specifically forcible transfer and using food as a weapon. Residents in northern Gaza have described the conditions as the worst of the war, with many fleeing to the south without food or resources. Meanwhile, Israel’s war with Hezbollah continues, with an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killing at least 30 people, many of whom were women and children. Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting and has declared that no part of Israel is off-limits.
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John Q. Hosedrinker