AP reports: “Israel cuts off electricity supply to Gaza, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water.” Al Jazeera reports: “UN says ‘nothing’ entering Gaza due to Israeli blockade” and “Israeli attacks kill 6 in Gaza, three Palestinians in West Bank.” Drop Site News reports: “Houthis Issue Ultimatum to Israel: Yemen Will Resume Naval Blockade if Aid Is Not Allowed into Gaza.”
Ryan Grim of Drop Site News writes: “The Trump administration’s attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident who hasn’t been charged with any crime, represents a frightening erosion of First Amendment protections that threatens all Americans. This extraordinary action — detaining and attempting to remove someone for protected political speech — establishes a dangerous precedent where government can bypass due process and criminalize dissent. On Monday evening, a federal judge temporarily blocked the attempted deportation. Sign and share our petition to stand with millions of Americans who believe in protecting constitutional rights. Scroll to the bottom to participate in a letter-writing campaign.”
Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada attacked the “complicity” of Columbia University, which just had its federal funding cut. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote: “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.” Abunimah responded: “The only laws being broken here are by you. Gross violations of the First Amendment and due process, all to serve Israel. Trashing the U.S. constitution for a foreign regime. Doesn’t sound very ‘America First’ to me, Marco.” Folk singer David Rovics just released the song “Mahmoud Khalil.”
Even rightwing pundits Candace Owens and Ann Coulter attacked the government’s actions as a violation of the First Amendment.
Available for a limited number of interviews:
MEGHNAD BOSE, @MeghnadBose93
Bose is an investigative journalist in New York City and a reporter and Delacorte Fellow, at Columbia Journalism Review. He wrote the piece “DHS Detains Lead Negotiator of Columbia Gaza Solidarity Encampment, Claiming ‘Activities Aligned to Hamas’” for Drop Site News, which has also just published the piece “Mahmoud Khalil Was Detained by ICE Agent Honored by Trump at State of the Union.”