J Street Condemns Horrific Anti-Israel, Antisemitic Attack in Washington DC, Mourns Two Victims, J Street
Following the deadly anti-Israel, antisemitic shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum following an American Jewish Committee event in Washington, DC, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement: “We could not be more horrified by the brazen, terrifying attack that has claimed the lives of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. We are simply heartbroken for the loved ones and friends of Sarah and Yaron, a spectacular young couple whose families should have been celebrating their engagement next week in Jerusalem. Instead, they will mourn their senseless loss.”
Jewish Groups React to Two Israeli DC Embassy Members Killed by Suspect Who Shouted “Free Palestine”, Jewish Journal
“J Street posted to X, ‘We are horrified by the shooting this evening outside of an American Jewish Committee event for young professionals at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC that took the lives of two Israeli Embassy staff. We are keeping the victims of this attack and their families in our hearts. Antisemitism is a deadly scourge that has no place in our society and must be unequivocally condemned.’”
Heinrich, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution Denouncing Two-Month Blockade on Food and Medicine in Gaza, Office of Sen. Heinrich
“U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) to introduce a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and life-saving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In their resolution, the senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children. The senators’ resolution is supported by Anera, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, J Street, and Oxfam America.”
We Are Jewish Students From Universities Trump Is Targeting. He’s Not Protecting Us, The Forward
“The Trump Administration’s Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced earlier this year visits to 10 universities whom it alleges to have ‘failed to protect Jewish students and faculty members from unlawful discrimination.’ Each of us is a Jewish student at one of the universities the administration named in its announcement…While it is true that each school has been rocked by antisemitic incidents, Trump’s plans offer us no comfort.”
Statement on the Passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly, a Champion of Justice, J Street
Following the tragic news of the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement: “The United States Congress has lost a fierce champion for fairness, equality and justice. Those who work with and on Capitol Hill have lost a generous and caring colleague, mentor and ally. My heart goes out to Congressman Connolly’s family. This is a truly devastating loss for us all.’”
2 Staff Members of Israeli Embassy Killed in Shooting Near Jewish Museum in DC, The Associated Press
“Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, ‘Free, free Palestine’ after he was arrested, police said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Lischinsky was a research assistant, and Milgrim organized visits and missions to Israel.”
Israel Preparing to Strike Iran Fast if Trump’s Nuclear Talks Break Down, Axios
“Israel is making preparations to swiftly strike Iran’s nuclear facilities if negotiations between the U.S. and Iran collapse, two Israeli sources with knowledge of the discussions tell Axios. Why it matters: The Israeli intelligence community has shifted just in the past few days from believing a nuclear deal was close to thinking talks could soon break down, the sources say.”
Israeli Soldiers Fire in Air to Disperse Western Diplomats in West Bank, The New York Times
“Israeli soldiers fired warning shots on Wednesday to disperse a group of senior Western diplomats, Palestinian officials and journalists as they toured a Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to statements by the Israeli military and the Palestinian Authority and television footage from the scene.”
Israel Intercepts Two Missiles Launched From Yemen, Military Says, Reuters
“Israel’s military said it intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen and that sirens had sounded twice across the country including in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank on Thursday, as the Iran-aligned Houthis stepped up attacks.”
Netanyahu Promises New Gaza Aid Delivery Plan as Supplies Still Fail to Reach Palestinians, The Associated Press
“The U.N. said Wednesday it was trying to get the desperately needed aid that has entered Gaza this week into the hands of Palestinians amid delays because of fears of looting and Israeli military restrictions. Israeli strikes pounded the territory, killing at least 86 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the country is days away from implementing a new aid system in Gaza that has come under heavy international criticism. He said Israel later plans to create a ‘sterile zone’ there, free of Hamas, where the population, which has repeatedly evacuated and relocated throughout the war, would be moved and receive supplies.”
Israel’s Netanyahu Says ‘It Appears’ Hamas Leader Mohammed Sinwar Was Killed, ABC News
“Israel has likely killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference on Wednesday. Sinwar is the current head of the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He took over from his brother, Yahya Sinwar, in October 2024 after he was killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza.”
Gazans Fear Shutdown of Water Plants as Israel Widens Offensive, BBC
“Chronic shortages of water in Gaza are worsening as Israel’s expanding military offensive causes new waves of displacement – and desalination and hygiene plants are running out of fuel. The UN’s humanitarian office has said its partners are warning that, without immediate fuel deliveries, a full shutdown of water and sanitation facilities is possible by the end of the week.”
Two of the Last Functioning Hospitals in Northern Gaza Are Encircled by Israeli Forces, Staff Say, The Associated Press
“Two of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospitals have been encircled by Israeli troops, preventing anyone from leaving or entering the facilities, hospital staff and aid groups said this week, as Israel pursued its renewed offensive into the devastated Palestinian territory. The Indonesian hospital and al-Awda hospital are among the region’s only surviving medical centers. Both have come under fire this week, including shelling at al-Awda that happened Wednesday as The Associated Press spoke to its director on the phone.”
Microsoft Blocks Emails that Contain ‘Palestine’ After Employee Protests, The Verge
“Microsoft employees have discovered that any emails they send with the terms ‘Palestine’ or ‘Gaza’ are getting temporarily blocked from being sent to recipients inside and outside the company. The No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA) protest group reports that ‘dozens of Microsoft workers’ have been unable to send emails with the words ‘Palestine,’ ‘Gaza,’ and ‘Genocide’ in email subject lines or in the body of a message.”
Even Halting the Bombings Won’t End the War, Haaretz
Hanin Majadli writes, “When Ilani writes that ‘many nations have done that,’ he perpetuates the same approach: framing the crime as a regrettable, inevitable fact – one that can be explained, softened and interpreted. It doesn’t convey acknowledgment, but numbness. But this won’t happen with this genocide. The Nakba wasn’t documented; this genocide is. There’s no way back from what’s happening. And maybe Ilani argues this because he is trying to soothe a paralyzing fear.”
If Aid Doesn’t Enter Gaza Now, 14,000 Babies May Die. UN Peacekeepers Must Step In, The Guardian
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Michael Fakhri writes, “Israel’s increased violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory also comes after it denied all food, water and supplies from entering Gaza for over 75 days. In March, child acute malnutrition increased by more than 80%. The price of wheat flour has increased by 3,000% since February. The World Food Programme ran out of food for kitchens in Gaza on 25 April and the World Central Kitchen closed its operations on 7 May. If adequate aid does not enter Gaza immediately, 14,000 Palestinian babies may die.”