US Officials Arrest Students Opposing the Gaza War

In Austin, Texas, police have arrested 34 students who were protesting against the Hamas-Israel war in the Gaza Strip. A statement from the Texas State Department of Public Safety stated that the arrests were made on the orders of the university management and Texas Governor Gregg Abbot.

Hundreds of police officers riding horses and carrying sticks pushed the protesters to disperse the crowd. Some people fell due to pushing between the protesters and police.

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A photographer covering the demonstration for television station Fox 7 was arrested. The arrest has been confirmed by the television station management. A journalist was injured in the incident and received help from police and medical staff near the scene.

Dane Urquhart, a third-year student in Texas, called the security forces' actions excessive. He believes that the protest would have been peaceful if the officers were not reactive. "Due to the many arrests, I think there will be even more demonstrations," he said.

The issue of air pollution is not new. The situation of the community threatened by air pollution has been going on for some time. There is also no shortage of research evidence indicating the threat posed by the impacts of air pollution. However, in reality, this has yet to drive significant efforts in controlling air pollution. As a result, residents are increasingly suffering while being trapped in air pollution. The rector of the University of Austin, Jay Hartzell, defended the actions of the authorities. He stated that the security and university management wanted to enforce the rules. "Our rules are important and they must be enforced. The campus cannot be occupied," he said.

The police left after hours of trying to control the crowd. Around 300 demonstrators sat back on the grass and sang beneath the iconic clock tower on campus.

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Efforts by several campus managements to limit student protests and other academic societies have failed. The management of Harvard University restricted access to Harvard Yard and required permission to set up tents and tables.

The rule did not make the students and campus staff afraid to protest. Dozens of tents stood in Harvard Yard after the management sanctioned the Harvard Student Palestinian Solidarity Committee.

A number of students and teaching staff protested the Israel-Hamas war and demanded that management cut financial ties with Israel. They urged the campus to divest from companies that were fueling the conflict in Gaza.

Law enforcement authorities have also arrested at least 133 protestors who opposed the Gaza war in New York. Additionally, over 40 protestors were also arrested for camping on the grounds of Yale University.

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At Columbia University, management is seeking to avoid further confrontation with protesters. Columbia University's rector, Minouche Shafik, has set a new time limit for students and other academic community members who protest to clean up the equipment used in their demonstrations within the next 48 hours.

The Chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has mentioned the involvement of the National Guard to stop the student protests. However, the campus management believes it is unnecessary. "Our focus is to restore order, and if we can achieve it through dialogue, we will do so," said Ben Chang, Vice President of Communications at Columbia University.

The police attempted to clean up the equipment used by protesters along with the arrest of more than 100 students and academics last week. However, this action backfired and instead inspired other students throughout the country to establish similar encampments.

Support and solidarity among students from various campuses have motivated protesters at Columbia University to continue demonstrating. On Wednesday, around 60 tents were still standing in the Columbia campus grounds.

Security remains tight around the campus. The security apparatus is requesting that individuals entering and exiting present identification. Police have set up barricades around the campus. Columbia has agreed with protestors that only students can remain on the campsite.

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In Minnesota, dozens of University of Minnesota students staged a protest after nine of their colleagues were arrested by the police. US Congress member, Ilhan Omar, whose daughter was arrested in Columbia last week, attended the protest on the same day.

As a result, more than 80 professors and assistant professors have signed a call to the rector to cancel any demands and allow future camping as part of academic freedom. They argue that the repressive actions of the authorities are a violation of the right to freedom of speech.

Storming Rafah

In Gaza, the Israeli military is preparing to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah after deciding to attack the area. An Israeli government spokesperson has announced that a ground operation will be launched. It is not yet known when the attack will take place.

A defense official from Israel revealed that they have purchased 40,000 tents for Palestinian residents in new refugee locations during the attack. Sources from the Israeli government stated that the Israeli war cabinet plans to hold a meeting to begin the evacuation of Palestinian civilians, which is estimated to take one month.

An official who wished to remain anonymous stated that the military could attack at any given moment. They are still waiting for the green light from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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After striking Hamas in the north and center of Gaza, the Israeli military is attempting to destroy the group, which is estimated to still be operating in the southern region. "Hamas was hit in the north. Hamas also suffered a hard blow in the middle of the Gaza Strip. Soon, Hamas will be hit hard in Rafah," said Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, Commander of Israel's 162 Division operating in Gaza, in an interview with Kan TV.

The US, a close ally of Israel, has urged them to set aside plans for an attack on Rafah. Washington said that Israel could combat Hamas in other ways. "We cannot support the Rafah ground operation without proper and credible humanitarian plans," said David Satterfield, the US Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs, on Tuesday (23/4/2024).

Egypt has declared that it will not allow Gaza residents to be pushed across the border into its territory. Cairo is warning Israel not to strike Rafah. Three Egyptian security sources have stated that military and security coordination between Egypt and Israel over any Israeli attacks on Rafah does not mean they approve of it.

H A Hellyer, senior fellow in international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute, predicted an attack on Rafah would be “more immediate”. Because, Netanyahu is under pressure to fulfill his goals, namely saving hostages and killing all Hamas leaders.

"The invasion of Rafah cannot be avoided because of the way he (Netanyahu) frames all of this," he said. Hellyer ensured that there would be many casualties if the attack were to happen.

(AP/Reuters)