Gaza Crisis
Total Death Toll: 53,573 Palestinians, 1,706 Israelis
121,688 Palestinians injured since October 7th, 2023.
17,000 are children.
Deaths in the last 24 hours as of May 23rd, 2025: at least 85 Palestinians
- May 23rd, 2025: At least 85 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza. UN chief Guterres calls this the "cruelest phase" of the war, with aid deliveries described as a "teaspoon" compared to the need.
- May 20th, 2025: Death toll surpasses 53,500. Israeli airstrikes target residential buildings in northern Gaza, with dozens killed or missing under rubble. Health system near collapse.
- May 18th, 2025: Israel launches extensive ground operation, killing at least 135 in a single day. Operation "Gideon's Chariots" aims to seize more land in Gaza Strip.
- May 6th–17th, 2025: Daily Israeli airstrikes kill dozens each day. Notable strikes on tent encampments, schools, and hospitals. Civilian casualties remain high, with many children among the dead.
- Late March–May 2025: Widespread anti-Hamas protests erupt across Gaza, with thousands demanding an end to the war and Hamas rule. Hamas responds with violence, including executions and kidnappings of protestors.
- March 18th, 2025: Ceasefire collapses as Israel resumes airstrikes, killing over 400 in a single day. Mass displacement and renewed ground operations follow.
- March 18th, 2025: Over 350 Palestinians killed
- 100 hostages estimated remaining, with a third believed deceased
January 2nd, 2025: 43 dead in Israeli Airstrikes
- 11 were in a tent encampment for displaced families in the Al-Mawasi district designed as a humanitarian zone for civilians
- Director General of Gaza's Police Department, Mahmoud Salah and his aide, Hussam Shahwan among the victims.
- Israel said Shahwan was head of Hamas security forces in Southern Gaza
- 6 in the Interior Ministry Headquarters in Khan Yunis
- Jabalia
- Shati
- Maghazi
- 4 killed on Jala Street in Gaza City
- Islamic Jihad fired rockets into Holit kibbutz, Israel intercepting one
- December 28th, 2024: The Israel army kidnapped Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital after beating him. They then set the hospital on fire with staff and patients inside. 240 Palestinians were kidnapped by Israel, 15 of whom were identified by Israel as participants in the October 7th, attack. 20 Palestinians killed.
Key Facts:
- Over 121,688 Palestinians have been injured since October 7th, 2023.
- about 5400 Israeli injuries estimated
- The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) estimates that there are approximately 11,000 Palestinians missing and presumed dead
- an estimated 6% population decrease in the past 15 months.
- Most of the deaths are civilians
- Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide.
Diddy on Trial: Testimony Unfolds in Brooklyn
Federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial began May 5th, 2025
Key Testimony
May 22nd, 2025: Day 9 of testimony. Jury dismissed for Memorial Day weekend; trial resumes Tuesday.
Cassie Ventura, Diddy's former girlfriend, testified to years of physical and sexual abuse, describing orchestrated drug-fueled "Freak Offs."
Kid Cudi testified about a break-in at his home, his car being set on fire with a Molotov cocktail after Diddy learned of his relationship with Cassie, and threats he received. He described a tense meeting with Diddy, who denied involvement, and later apologized years after the incident.
Frédéric Zemmour, general manager of L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, testified about Diddy's use of aliases and hotel records noting excessive use of oil and candle wax, and extra cleaning fees after his stays.
Mylah Morales, Cassie's former makeup artist, recounted seeing Cassie with a swollen eye, busted lip, and knots on her head after a hotel incident with Diddy in 2010, and described her fear of Diddy as the reason for not calling police.
Cassie's mother testified about receiving threats from Diddy, including demands for $20,000 and threats to release explicit videos and harm Cassie and Kid Cudi.
Upcoming Witnesses:
- Capricorn Clark, former Diddy employee and marketing team member
- Witnesses from the Los Angeles Police Department and Fire Department
Trial Details:
- Diddy faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and related offenses. He has pleaded not guilty.
- Prosecutors allege a criminal enterprise spanning 2004–2024, involving coercion, violence, and cover-ups.
- Testimony has included accounts from former staff, alleged victims, and expert witnesses on abuse and trauma bonds.
- If convicted, Diddy could face up to life in prison.
Israel Invades Southern Lebanon
- May 22nd, 2025: Israeli military launched a wave of strikes on southern Lebanon, including Toul, Soujod, Touline, Sawanna, and Rihan Mountain, ahead of municipal elections. Lebanese PM condemned the attacks as violations of the November ceasefire. One Hezbollah fighter killed in Rab el-Thalathine, a shepherd injured, and heavy bombardment reported—the heaviest since the truce.
- April 22nd, 2025: Israeli airstrike killed Hussein Atoui, Commander of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya's al-Fajr Forces
- April 1st, 2025: Israel killed Hezbollah member Hassan Bdeir and 3 others in Dahiyeh.
- January 26–27, 2025: Israeli troops opened fire on displaced Lebanese civilians returning to their homes in Kfar Kila, killing at least 26 and injuring over 147. A Lebanese Army soldier was also killed. The following day, two more civilians were killed and 17 wounded in renewed gunfire.
- Israel violates ceasefire agreement
- November 26th, 2024: Israel and Lebanon signed a ceasefire agreement mediated by France and the United States.
- October 1st, 2024: Israel launched a ground invasion of Southern Lebanon, marking the sixth Israeli invasion since 1978.
- The invasion was preceded by intense airstrikes in late September 2024.
- Some experts view this as part of Israel's broader "Greater Israel" strategy in the region.
Syria's New Transitional Government Formed
- May 16th, 2025: Amnesty International calls on Syria's new government to prioritize justice, truth, and reparations, and to include victims and civil society in shaping transitional justice mechanisms. The government is urged to investigate the March coastal massacres of Alawite civilians as war crimes.
- May 14th, 2025: President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets US President Donald Trump in Riyadh after the US announces the lifting of sanctions on Syria, boosting hopes for economic recovery and international reintegration.
- May 3rd, 2025: Israeli airstrikes target areas near the presidential palace in Damascus and Druze-majority regions after sectarian clashes; dozens reported killed. Israel states it will not allow threats to minorities in Syria.
- April 1st, 2025: President al-Sharaa appoints a 23-member transitional cabinet, including representatives from Christian, Alawite, Druze, and Kurdish communities. Hind Kabawat, a Catholic, is named Minister of Labour and Social Affairs—the only woman in the cabinet. The government pledges to draft a new constitution and organize elections.
- March 29th, 2025: The Syrian Transitional Government is officially established, replacing the caretaker government. The new government structure is dominated by allies of al-Sharaa and includes technocrats and minority representatives.
- March 13th, 2025: The Constitutional Declaration for the Transitional Period is adopted, establishing a legal framework for the post-Assad era and creating a Transitional Justice Commission.
- February 27th, 2025: The National High Commission for Missing Persons is announced, but victims' groups criticize lack of consultation and progress.
- January 31st, 2025: President al-Sharaa delivers his first national address, vowing to pursue those responsible for war crimes and to hold a national dialogue conference. The 2012 constitution and former regime's institutions are dissolved.
- December 27th, 2024: The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on 83 ISIS positions in eastern Syria, supporting ground operations by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
- December 25th, 2024: Israel announced plans to establish a 10-kilometer "security zone" along its border with Syria.
- December 22nd, 2024: Former President Bashar al-Assad was granted asylum in Moscow, Russia
- December 20th, 2024: The Syrian National Coalition announced the formation of an interim government.
- December 18th, 2024: Opposition forces seized control of the presidential palace and state television headquarters.
- December 15th, 2024: The Syrian government fell, ending the Assad family's 54-year rule. A coalition of opposition forces, led by the Syrian National Army and supported by Turkish-backed militias, captured Damascus. The rebel offensive, dubbed "Operation Dawn of Freedom," surprise attacked key military installations around the capital.
Yemen-Israel Conflict
Recent Developments:
- May 6th, 2025: Israel launched airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport and several power stations in Yemen after a Houthi hypersonic missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. The airport was rendered inoperable, and power infrastructure was damaged. Strikes in the vicinity of Hodeidah on May 5th killed four and injured 39, according to Houthi sources.
- April 17th, 2025: The United States struck Ras Isa fuel port, killing at least 74 people
- December 27th, 2024: Houthi rebels claimed new attacks against Israel, including a missile fired at Ben Gurion Airport and drones launched at Tel Aviv.
- Israel's military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen before it crossed into Israeli territory.
- December 26th, 2024: Israel launched airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport and other targets in Yemen, killing at least three people.
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was at the airport during the strike, and a UN plane crew member was injured.
International Reactions:
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would "continue until the job is done" in cutting off "this branch of terrorism from the Iranian axis of evil."
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation and called the Sanaa airport strikes "especially alarming."
- Iran's foreign ministry condemned Israel's strikes as a "clear violation of international peace and security."
Mark Carney Elected
Prime Minister and Liberal Party Leader
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu
January 9th, 2025
The United States House passed a bill sanctioning anyone who assists the ICC
Background
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on November 21st, 2024, for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The charges include alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict, such as using starvation as a method of warfare and blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. These actions are said to have caused severe harm to civilians, violating international law.
Israel's Response
Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected the ICC's authority and legitimacy, stating that Israel will appeal the decision. The Israeli government has formally requested the ICC to suspend the warrants while the appeal is processed.
International Reactions
- United States: The Biden administration criticized the ICC's decision, with bipartisan calls for sanctions against the court.
- European Union: EU countries are divided. France and Italy have questioned the feasibility of enforcing the warrants due to immunity claims, while others emphasize support for the ICC's independence.
- South Africa and Namibia: Both countries welcomed the ICC's decision, highlighting it as a step toward justice for Palestinians.
Implications
The warrants could significantly restrict Netanyahu's international travel to ICC member states, as these nations are obligated to enforce the arrest. However, Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, complicating enforcement.