Biden to meet with families of Americans being held hostage by Hamas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, told colleges and universities in the Lone Star State on Tuesday that they should avoid teaching students about any social agendas and should work to root out antisemitism on their campuses.

Abbott was speaking at the annual conference of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board at the University of Texas in Austin when he warned universities that business executives are not interested in the social or political motivations of the academic institutions prospective employees attend, according to Fox 7.

"There's been none of them who have asked me what is the ideological bent of what is being taught in our universities? How are students being indoctrinated? They don't ask that because that is not applicable to what they are trying to achieve when they hire an employee," Abbott said.

The governor also urged university officials to ensure Jewish students are not subject to antisemitism when they step foot on campus in Texas, a reference to the controversial testimonies about the rise of antisemitism on campus delivered before Congress last week by Harvard University President Claudine Gay, then-University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and MIT President Sally Kornbluth.

"You have a leadership responsibility, to ensure that there is no one on your campuses that are advocating for genocide or antisemitism. It is completely unacceptable in the state of Texas, period," Abbott told the Texas institutions.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned all state colleges and universities that failing to crack down on antisemitism on their campus is a violation of the state’s Human Rights Law and will result in "aggressive enforcement action."

Hochul wrote a letter to the presidents of colleges and universities across the state, with a message that calls for genocide made on campuses violate the New York State Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The letter came as Hochul, like many Americans, saw presidents of several universities fail to denounce antisemitism and calls for genocide of Jewish people on their college campuses.

Hochul said she contacted State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John King to make sure that calling for the genocide of any group of people on any of its 62 campuses is a violation of the code of conduct, which it is.

Hochul said King affirmed that SUNY does not tolerate antisemitism or hatred of any kind and learned from City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez the same is true for CUNY schools.

Hochul told the university presidents that by not addressing antisemitic activity on campuses, the schools are in violation of the State Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Act of 1964. She also said schools that receive federal funds are responsible for keeping students free from a hostile environment based on their ethnicity or national origin.

Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Officers arrested 41 students on Monday following a demonstration at Brown University as students staged a sit-in and called for a cease-fire in Gaza, according to the Brown Daily Herald. 

Providence Police Department and Brown Department of Public Safety officers arrested and booked all 41 students from Brown Divest Coalition who occupied University Hall on Tuesday afternoon and demanded the school divest from weapons manufacturers amid the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Herald. 

"The disruption to secure buildings is not acceptable, and the University is prepared to escalate the level of criminal charges for future incidents of students occupying secure buildings," University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in a statement to The Herald.

Read the full article about Brown University by Stepheny Price

An ad campaign from Zara, a major fashion company chain, sparked a #BoycottZara social media push and protests outside stores for allegedly being insensitive to Gaza war victims. 

Zara released a statement, after publication, Tuesday expressing regret for the "misunderstanding" where "unfortunately, some customers felt offended" by the ads and "saw … something far from what was intended."

The campaign for the Atelier line, titled "Collection 04_The Jacket," features model Kristen McMenamy standing in front of props including mannequins without limbs wrapped in white plastic surrounded by rubble. Other models behind her were covered in dust and dressed in white.

Read the full article about Zara by Lindsay Kornick

A Turkish lawmaker had a heart attack and fell to the ground in Parliament on Tuesday after declaring that Israel will "not be able to escape the wrath of God," according to reports.

Video shows Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Hasan Bitmez, 53, delivering a speech, which according to the BBC, was on the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

"Even if history remains silent, the truth will not remain silent. They think that if they get rid of us, there will be no problem," Bitmez said in a translated version of his speech. "However, if you get rid of us, you will not be able to escape the torment of conscience. Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of God."

Read the full article about Hasan Bitmez by Greg Wehner

Rutgers University suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter on Tuesday.

The New Jersey public university issued an "interim suspension" of the pro-Palestinian organization, according to a letter obtained by NorthJersey.com. Associate Dean of Students Michelle Jefferson wrote in the letter that the student organization has violated several university policies.

"You allegedly have had multiple cases of disrupting classes, a program, meals, and students studying," Jefferson wrote.

Read the full article about Rutgers by Adam Sabes

Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin joined "Your World" Tuesday to report the latest developments with the Israel-Hamas war.

During her appearance, Griffin reported that Yemeni Houthis recently struck a Norwegian tanker in the Red Sea.

"The U.S. says it's working to build an international maritime coalition to address what the Pentagon describes as a rising threat of attacks from the Iranian-backed Houthis," she explained. "Last night, Houthi forces fired a cruise missile that struck a Norwegian-flagged ship."

"There has never been such a grave threat to international shipping, I'm told by concerned US Navy officers," Griffin concluded.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that it has "significantly" damaged Hamas' naval capabilities.

"Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, the Missile Ship Flotilla and Naval Security Squadron have struck hundreds of targets and provided support to soldiers on the ground," the statement read. "Israeli Navy soldiers have eliminated terrorists, including dozens active in Hamas' naval forces."

"Most of the leaders of Hamas' naval forces, which consist of hundreds of operatives specializing in carrying out maritime attacks, have also been targeted and killed," the press release added.

The military also disclosed that it is processing four new Sa'ar 6-class corvettes and that, for the first time, "a Sa'ar 6 missile ship sailed to the Red Sea."

"This week, the INS Magen, a Sa'ar 6-class corvette, anchored in the port of Eilat for the first time, joining the Israeli Navy's operational activities," the IDF explained. "Alongside this activity, the operational processing of the fourth and final ship of the Sa'ar 6 series was completed, which took over two years – a very rapid pace for installing and adapting advanced combat systems and state-of-the-art Israeli systems for four ships simultaneously."

A far-right lawmaker in Poland ignited outrage among all major political forces Tuesday after blasting a lighted menorah with a fire extinguisher.

Grzegorz Braun, one of Poland’s most controversial lawmakers in parliament, can be seen extinguishing the candles on a menorah in the parliament building as a new pro-EU government was beginning its work. A cloud of smoke, haze and white powder filled the area.

Lawmakers were quick to denounce Braun’s actions, saying there would be no tolerance for antisemitic behavior in the parliament.

Read the full article about Grzegorz Braun by Bradford Betz

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a resolution presented by Egypt demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, and for the release of all hostages.

Just before the vote was taken during an emergency special session, the UN shot down two amendments to the resolution – one from Austria and another from the U.S. – condemning Hamas, as both required a two-thirds majority vote of approval to pass.

The President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, opened the emergency session just after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, telling the room full of representatives that tens of thousands of people have died since the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel began on Oct. 7, with even more being displaced by violence with nowhere safe to go.

Read the full article on the UN by Greg Wehner

An Israeli medical professional told the Times of Israel that Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity were drugged and subjected to sexual abuse.

Renana Eitan, director of the psychiatric division of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center-Ichilov, told the publication that she had never seen "anything like that" in her career.

“The physical, sexual, mental, psychological abuse of these hostages who came back is just terrible,” Eitan said. “We have to rewrite the textbook.”

Eitan explained that Hamas terrorists gave hostages drugs in order to control them, including teenagers and children.

One of the drugs was ketamine, an anesthetic that can cause feelings of detachment or hallucinations.

“One of the girls was given ketamine for a few weeks,” she continued. “It’s unbelievable to do this to a child.”

Vice President Kamala Harris' holiday party speech was interrupted by a Democrat state representative calling for a cease-fire in the Middle East.

Harris was in the middle of speaking at a Christmas party on Monday night when Delaware state Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton held up a sign that read "cease-fire" and began yelling at the vice president.

"Madam Vice President, I am a rep from Delaware. Did you know in Bethlehem they are not celebrating Christmas? Did you know in Bethlehem, baby Jesus is under rubble? Why won't you call for a cease-fire," Wilson-Anton shouted. 

Read the full article about Kamala Harris by Joe Schoffstall and Aubrie Spady

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says that Israel has been attacked by Hezbollah at least two times this week.

"For the second time this week, Hezbollah launched several rockets toward Israel yesterday," the IDF said on X. "One being launched 130 meters from a .@UN compound, with additional launches toward Israel from the same area."

"By continuing to fire from areas near U.N. compounds, Hezbollah systematically violates UNSC Resolution 1701 and endangers the lives of @UNIFIL_ soldiers," the post added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a joint statement announcing that they are "closely monitoring threats to public safety" related to the Israel-Hamas war.

"The FBI is closely monitoring threats to public safety during the holiday season which may be amplified by the ongoing Israel-HAMAS conflict," the statement, which was released Tuesday, read. "As we are actively communicating and sharing information with our law enforcement partners, faith communities, and others, this Public Service Announcement is being released by the FBI and DHS to the American public to help protect our communities during religious observances and other holiday-related events."

The agencies ask members of the public to report any possible threats to their local FBI office, or to log onto tips.fbi.gov. Callers can also contact 1-800-CALL FBI.

"We take all potential threats seriously and will work closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action," the press release added.

The University of Pennsylvania has announced a new interim president on Tuesday, after Liz Magill resigned on Saturday.

Dr.  J. Larry Jameson will serve as the interim president of the university, UPenn announced Tuesday. Previously, Jameson was dean of the university's medical school. 

Magill resigned following criticism stemming from her appearance at a congressional hearing, where she failed to say if calls for the genocide of Jews would violate university policy.

Read the full article about UPenn by Adam Sabes and Bryan Llenas

An antisemitic sign was hung outside the office of an outspoken pro-Israel congressman from Michigan.

Michigan Republican Rep. Tim Walberg, a former Christian pastor, issued a news release on Monday saying an antisemitic sign had been posted on a tree outside his office window.

The sign depicted Uncle Sam removing his American stovepipe hat to reveal a kippah – or yarmulke – with a Star of David underneath reading "Jew u$ury buy$ USA pols" (sic).

Read the full article about Tim Walberg by Houston Keene

In the summer of 2020, nearly every sector of American society – from academia, corporations and government entities – rushed to bend the knee to a radical left-wing mob. 

To signal their obedience, institutions began paying fealty to the Black Lives Matter organization with funds, store window displays, and, most dangerously, by infusing divisive race ideology into school curriculums. BLM reaped millions of dollars in donations, which they squandered on buying mansions instead of improving the communities they claim to serve. 

Schools that embraced BLM's teachings began feeding the youth of America a race-baiting, oppressor-versus-oppressed narrative that is now bearing its rotten fruit on college campuses.

Read the full opinion piece by Rep. Burgess Owens

"The Young Turks" show host and announced 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidate Cenk Uygur turned heads on social media this week after asking his fellow critics of Israel to stop using the "From the River to the Sea" chant, calling it "hurtful" to the Jewish people.

Uygur, who maintains that Israel is committing "war crimes" in Gaza with its response to Hamas’ massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, added that the chant is "counterproductive" to the Palestinian cause.

On his X account Monday, Cenk asked, "Can everyone please stop the dumb ‘from the river to the sea' chant? It is incredibly hurtful to our Jewish brothers and sisters."

Read the full article about Cenk Uygur by Gabriel Hays

MSNBC host Joy Reid pressed Israeli official Mark Regev to defend the country's tactics in a tense interview on Monday.

Regev pushed back against accusations Israel had not taken enough measures to protect women and children in Gaza.

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry has reported 18,000 people have died in the Gaza Strip since Israel started its bombing campaign in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack that took hundreds of hostages and killed 1,200 people. Reid presented these numbers to Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on her Monday night show.

Read the full article about Joy Reid by Kristine Parks