Main Events on May 14th
- At least 84 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, including air attacks on northern Gaza’s Jabalia that left at least 50 people dead.
- Thousands of Palestinians have fled parts of Gaza City’s Remal neighbourhood after the Israeli army announced plans to attack because it said Hamas – without providing any evidence – was operating there.
- Hamas says Israel’s bombing campaign would “bring Netanyahu no form of victory” in Gaza, as the group also condemned the Israeli military’s forced evacuation orders.
- US President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, says he is hopeful that a Gaza deal can be reached after he held talks in Qatar’s capital with Qatari officials and the families of Israeli captives.
It's already May 15th in occupied Palestine, Nakba day.
What is Nakba Day and what does it commemorate?
Every year on May 15, Palestinians mark Nakba Day to commemorate the ethnic cleansing of Palestine upon the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
Zionist forces expelled about 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and lands between 1947 and 1949, capturing 78 percent of historical Palestine.
Today, Palestinians and their supporters commemorate the Nakba – “catastrophe” in Arabic – with marches, protests and other events.
As Israel continues its deadly military bombardment of Gaza and tries to push Palestinians out of the coastal enclave, many observers say the Nakba never ended.
For more on Nakba Day, check out this Al Jazeera explainer from 2022.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch denounces Tel Aviv University over Nakba Day commemorations, warning of budget cuts and accusing the institution of suppressing academic freedom.
"I regret the false morality of Tel Aviv University President Prof. Ariel Porat," Kisch stated. "Porat is among those responsible for undermining the core values of higher education and free speech in Israel. Under his leadership, the university has suppressed pluralistic discourse and effectively curtailed academic freedom."
Kisch drew a comparison to recent developments abroad, saying, "Prof. Porat should take note of what's happening in the US, where similar commemorations have been held. Any student who views Nakba Day as a national day of mourning should consider studying at Birzeit University rather than at the university of Israel's first Zionist city."
He warned that institutions supporting such activities may face financial repercussions: "Israeli law clearly stipulates that any institution promoting or facilitating Nakba Day events risks losing government funding. That is exactly what will happen."
I had to read that twice, so allowing students to have a (small, isolated) Nakba day commemoration is undermining free speech and academic freedom?
These racists really turn everything on its head.
