US scholars sue Trump over crackdown on pro-Palestine protesters

Two graduate students and a professor at Cornell University have filed a lawsuit in New York, seeking a nationwide injunction blocking the enforcement of two presidential orders that threaten to deport or jail those who advocate for Palestinian rights.

Momodou Taal, a British Gambian citizen and a PhD student at Cornell, is one of the plaintiffs.

“The US government claims to be zealous about free speech – except when it comes to Palestine,” he said in a statement.

“We’ve been here before: McCarthyism to Civil Rights to Vietnam, times when this country has deviated from its stated commitments to free speech. This is another generational moment, another hour of reckoning. Why is there a Palestine exception?”

The first of the executive orders, numbered 1416, directs the government to step up immigration screening to prevent the entry of individuals who may pose a “threat” to the US, while the second, numbered 14188, calls for the use of all available tools “to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence”.

UN experts slam ‘disproportionate’ arrests of pro-Palestinian students in US

US campuses including Columbia University in New York were rocked by student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks, drawing accusations of anti-Semitism.

Immigration officers arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of protests at Columbia, on the weekend of March 9-10 after US President Donald Trump pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian student demonstrators.

The White House later said authorities had supplied a list of other Columbia students who officers were seeking to deport over their alleged participation in protests.

“These actions are disproportionate, unnecessary, and discriminatory and will only lead to more trauma and polarisation negatively impacting the learning environment within university campuses,” a group of United Nations-appointed experts said in a statement.

“These actions create a chilling effect on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association,” they added.

The independent experts, appointed by the UN to report on rights issues, urged US authorities “to cease repression and retaliation, including in the form of arbitrary detention of US lawful permanent residents, and removal of international students who have participated in university protests”.

Peace president:

Trump says Iran will be ‘held responsible’ for Houthi attacks

In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump raised the prospect of direct confrontation with Iran as the US ups attacks on the Houthi militia in Yemen.

Trump said Houthi attacks “all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN”.

“Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there,” he said, further accusing Tehran of “dictating every move” by the rebels while providing them with weapons and intelligence.

“Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”

White House says Iran ‘better take this president seriously’

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has doubled down on Trump’s earlier threat to Iran, telling reporters “our message to Iran is, you better take this president seriously”.

“I think the Houthis learned this past weekend … there’s a new sheriff in town,” she said, referring to US strikes on Yemen.

“This president is not just going to sit on his hands and allow terrorists to launch attacks on commercial vessels and US Navy ships. Those actions will not be tolerated,” she added.

Leavitt had earlier blamed Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea on former President Joe Biden’s “pathetic weakness”.

UN verifies two children killed in US strikes on Yemen, despite Pentagon claims

The UN children’s fund (UNICEF) has said the organisation has verified that at least two boys, aged six and eight, were killed in US strikes on Saada, Yemen on Saturday.

The post on X came shortly after US Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, the director of operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters there were “no credible indications of civilian casualties” in the ongoing attacks on Yemen, which he said have so far targeted about 30 sites.

UNICEF said a third child was wounded in the strikes in Saada and the condition of a fourth child had not yet been confirmed.

“UNICEF calls for the protection of children and civilians at all times,” it said.

The UN verified that at least 2 boys aged 6 & 8 were among those killed by the airstrikes that targeted northern Saada 2 nights ago. A 3rd child was injured & the condition of a 4th child is yet to be confirmed. UNICEF calls for the protection of children & civilians at all times

— UNICEF Yemen (@UNICEF_Yemen) March 17, 2025

The United States has remained a unified nation for centuries, but history has shown that no country is immune to political, economic, or cultural fractures. Some U.S. states have strong independent identities, economic power, or political movements that could lead to secession in the future. While breaking away from the U.S. would be incredibly difficult legally and economically, some states have serious secessionist movements or unique conditions that make them potential candidates for independence. In this video, we’ll explore 10 U.S. states that could potentially break away in the future, looking at their reasons, movements, and feasibility. From Texas to California, let’s dive into the states that might one day go their own way.

The Trump effect

Israeli PM’s office says attacks resumed after talks failed: Report

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has said that Israel has resumed military operations in Gaza after Hamas rejected a US proposal to extend the ceasefire, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid.

Israel and Hamas have been engaged in mediated negotiations after Israel refused to enter into the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which was meant to begin following the first phase, which lasted for six weeks.


Israeli strikes kill 20 in Gaza City: Report

Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent is reporting that at least 20 people have been killed and more than 50 injured as a result of a series of Israeli air strikes on Gaza City, in the north of the Gaza Strip.

أكثر من 35 غارة جوية إسرائيلية على غزة خلال النصف ساعة الأخيرة، وطواقم الإسعاف والدفاع المدني تواجه صعوبة في إخلاء الشهداء والجرحى. pic.twitter.com/gCRH0kW9Je

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) March 18, 2025

Israel unilaterally ending Gaza ceasefire: Hamas

A senior Hamas official has told the Reuters news agency that the Israeli attacks mean that Israel is unilaterally ending the ceasefire in Gaza that began on January 19.


Israeli minister warns ‘gates of hell’ will be opened on Gaza: Report

Israeli media has reported that the country’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said that the “gates of hell” will be opened on Gaza if Hamas does not release all the captives still held in the Palestinian territory.

Israel will unleash forces on Hamas that they “have never known before”, the minister is reported to have said.

Death toll in Gaza now over 100, including many children: Report

The Reuters news agency, citing medics, says that at least 100 people have been killed, including many children, in Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip.

Trump was consulted prior to latest attack on Gaza: White House

Israel consulted with President Trump before launching their latest attack on Gaza, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“As President Trump has made clear, Hamas, the Houthis, Iran – all those who seek to terrorise not just Israel but the US – will see a price to pay, and all hell will break loose,” she told Fox News.

“The Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and Iranian-backed terror proxies should take President Trump very seriously when he says he’s not afraid to stand for law-abiding people and stand up for the US and our friend and ally Israel.”

So the war which "ended" (if we ignore Israel still killing Palestinians even after the "ceasefire") is officially back on, it took less than 2 months. Glimpse into Ukraine's future when Russia inevitably breaks their ceasefire and Trump blames the Ukrainians like he's blaming Palestinians. All he wanted was a PR win and didn't care what happened after. Only now, Trump has threatened Iran if Hamas fights back, so things could escalate a lot further. But hey, at least the media could pretend for less than 2 months that Israel wasn't still killing people.

At least 300 people killed in a single day of strikes, during Ramadan as well.

Before you read whatever The News says tomorrow just remember Israeli forces had already killed at least 150 people in Gaza since the “ceasefire”

— Prem Thakker ツ (@premthakker.bsky.social) 18 March 2025 at 02:33

Incredible

[image or embed]

— Prem Thakker ツ (@premthakker.bsky.social) 18 March 2025 at 01:10

It’s not a debate anymore. They’re saying it out loud. If you criticize Israel, the government will come for you, and if you’re foreign, the government will deport you for your criticism of Israel. The First Amendment, it seems, does not protect criticism of Israel or support for Palestine.

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan.bsky.social) 16 March 2025 at 16:04

Israel just killed hundreds of Palestinians, including kids.

The US just killed dozens of Yemenis, including kids.

"Why do they hate us?" asks the American public, blissfully ignorant of what's being done in its name in the Middle East by the US and its ally Israel.

Sigh.

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan.bsky.social) 18 March 2025 at 04:51

Killing hundreds of people in a mass bombing campaign "imperils the tenuous ceasefire."

[image or embed]

— Eli Valley (@elivalley.bsky.social) 18 March 2025 at 04:27

How dare you not wear a suit, you're disrespecting the White House!!!

Rapists with links to criminal gangs, multiple convictions of dangerous driving and assault?

Come on in! That doesn't disrespect the White House at all! After all, they're all criminals in there.

Disgusting the western news is still calling it a tenuous / fragile ceasefire.

Death toll stands over 400 now (after the 150+ killed during the ceasefire, and 14 days and counting of total blockade, no electricity for water even).

What would the Western Media call it if Hamas had killed 150 Israelis during the ceasefire and killed 400+ yesterday...



That's a US brokered ceasefire.

Not to forget Israel is still in Lebanon as well, still bombing Lebanon, still killing people in Lebanon.
And is also still in Syria, still bombing Syria, still killing people in Syria.

All with American political support, bombs and intelligence.

It's no surprise now anymore why the US is bombing Yemen. The Israeli military is overstretched, they wanted to go back to Gaza but the Houthis vowed to resume attacks if the total blockade (started during the ceasefire) wasn't lifted. So the US starts bombing Yemen as both a distraction and to keep the Houthis busy. Paving the way for Netanyahu to resume bombing Gaza.

Yeah Ukraine better watch out with any US 'ceasefires'. Trump is already well underway to discredit / dehumanize Zelenskyy and blaming Ukraine for getting invaded. It's just easier against Palestinians since they have have been dehumanized since the 1930's (50+ years before Hamas even existed, founded 1987 as a resistance group)

South Africa better watch out as well with Musk in the government.

If it was Hamas: "Hamas launches vicious assault against Israel, slaughtering 400+ Israelis in a bloodthirsty attack on Israel"

If it was Israel: "Israel is conducting special military operation strikes, teehee, ceasefire is in danger, some people died"

Anyway...

Of the Palestinians killed overnight, 174 were children and 89 were women, according to the ministry. The human toll in Gaza had risen steadily throughout the morning, the ministry said in a series of updates. At least 562 others were injured, the ministry said.

Oh and would you look at this, Netanyahu conveniently got an excuse to miss his testimony.

Netanyahu's testimony in graft trial canceled for the day amid shock Gaza offensive

And this fucking psychopath is back.

Far-right politician Ben-Gvir to return to Netanyahu government

Ben-Gvir returning shows their intentions loud and clear, back to the blatant genocide, Netanyahu is a lunatic but Ben Gvir is even worse somehow.

Rubio says US is ‘doing the world a favour’ by bombing Houthis

We’ve also been reporting on the ongoing US attacks on Yemen, which started on Saturday night.

In an interview on Fox News Radio, the US secretary of state said those attacks are directed at the Houthis.

“It’s wrong to think about it as we’re bombing Yemen. We’re bombing the Houthis, and they happen to be located in Yemen,” Marco Rubio said.

Rubio also said the US strikes were focused on stopping Houthi attacks on the Red Sea, which he said had hurt people’s ability to buy things, “whether you’re ordering it on Amazon or buying it from a store”.

“We’re going after their ability to attack our navy ships and their ability to attack our commercial shipping, period,” he said.

He did not mention that before the US began bombing Yemen on Saturday, the Houthis had paused their Red Sea attacks since a ceasefire was reached in Gaza in January or that the Houthis had said they would resume their attacks if Israel did not lift its ongoing total blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The interview also did not address reports, verified by the UN, that at least two children were among those killed in the US attacks on Yemen.

The only one hurting people's ability to buy things is the Trump administration.