Clashes in the West Bank Amid Gaza Air Strikes and Political Developments in the U.S.

On June 29, confrontations erupted outside a military base in Beit El, located in the occupied West Bank, as illegal Israeli settlers clashed with Israeli forces. These violent encounters can be traced back to the previous day when Israeli troops restricted access to Kafr Malik, a Palestinian village that had been declared a closed military zone after a settler attack occurred there on June 25.

In a separate incident on June 30, a missile strike targeted al-Baqa cafeteria on Gaza City's beach, which served as one of the few reliable spots for journalists to connect to the internet and report from the region. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 33 individuals, including Palestinian photojournalist and filmmaker Ismail Abu Hatab, who had previously survived an earlier attack this year. Notably, well-known journalist Bayan Abu Sultan was also injured in this incident. Human rights organizations have criticized Israel for its systematic targeting of journalists, highlighting that 228 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, marking it as the most dangerous location for journalists worldwide. According to Rebecca Vincent, the RSF campaign director, Israeli forces have taken extensive measures to obstruct media coverage of events in Gaza.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump made headlines on July 1 when he addressed questions about the deportation of Elon Musk during a press interview. Later that same day, the New York City Election Board confirmed the primary victory of 33-year-old candidate Zohran Mamdani, putting him in line to be the Democratic nominee for mayor in November. If elected, Mamdani would be the first Muslim and South Asian mayor in New York City’s history. However, Trump also suggested during a press conference at a newly opened migrant detention facility that he would consider arresting Mamdani if he refused to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the mayoral candidate's declaration that he would not comply with the agency.