Israeli Military Invades Al-Shifa Hospital
On Nov. 15, the Israeli military invaded Al-Shifa Hospital, which it claims is a major stronghold for Hamas in Gaza. In recent weeks, the hospital has served as a shelter for displaced Palestinians. Israel has claimed that Hamas used the hospital for military purposes through directing attacks from bunkers underneath the building. Palestinian health officials have denied these claims about Al-Shifa. The White House has supported Israel’s claims, saying that Hamas is storing weapons and operating a command node. President Biden also noted on Monday that hospitals in Gaza need protection. The hospital’s main building has stopped functioning, with doctors working by candlelight and warning that the situation inside has become ‘catastrophic.’ Thursday marked the sixth day without food and water in the hospital, which is still surrounded by fighting.
Trudeau and Netanyahu Clash Over Palestine
This past week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the violence. Trudeau made a statement Nov. 14 urging “the government of Israel to exercise maximum restraint,” a change in tone from past statements in which he maintained Israel’s right to defend itself. “The world is witnessing this killing of women, of children, of babies,” said Trudeau in a news conference. In a response on X, formerly known as Twitter, Netanyahu claimed that “Israel is doing everything it can to keep civilians out of harm’s way.” Protests in support of both Palestine and Israel have taken place in dozens of cities across Canada in the past week, drawing thousands of demonstrators.
U.S. Strikes Iran-Linked Sites in Syria
After attacks on American forces in Syria, the U.S. conducted precision strikes on facilities in eastern Syria. Such sites are used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Since violence resurged in Israel–Palestine, strikes against American forces in Iraq and Syria have increased. About 56 U.S. personnel have been injured in these attacks.
Over Half of Sudan in Need of Humanitarian Aid
After seven months of civil war, fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has continued. Nearly six million people have been uprooted or internally displaced. The United Nations has received reports of gender-based violence, forced disappearance, and arbitrary detentions. Around 25 million people need humanitarian help and over 70 percent of health facilities are out of service. There have been rampant outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and measles. The United Nations recently appealed for another $2.6 billion of aid.
U.S. and China Agree to Restart Climate Talks
Representatives from China and the U.S. met in California Nov. 12. The two nations agreed that talks on climate change would restart after they were cut off last year in protest of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. President Biden and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping met Nov. 15, in which they affirmed the progress made by the agreement. China and the U.S. had the first and second highest yearly carbon emissions, respectively, in 2020. This comes ahead of the 2023 U.N. Climate Change Conference, which will begin Nov. 30 in Dubai.
Nepal Bans TikTok
Nepal announced on Monday that it was banning TikTok in the country, saying “social harmony and goodwill” were being disrupted by misuse of the app. According to local media reports, more than 1,600 cybercrime cases have occurred within the last four years, cybercrime being defined as any activity using a networked device for illegal means, including spreading malware, illegal information, or illegal images. India banned TikTok completely in 2020 and bans have been considered on and off in the United States, including a ban of the app on government devices in New York in 2023.
