Gaza:

A Christian aid organization operating in the Gaza Strip has reported that nearly 30 Christians have lost their lives since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict last October. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a longstanding charity founded in the aftermath of World War II, disclosed that "a total of 30 Christians have died since the conflict began," citing data from the Project Development Office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The casualties include "17 individuals affected by the strike on the Greek Orthodox parish compound in October 2023, as well as two women killed by snipers in the Catholic parish of the Holy Family," according to ACN. Additionally, nearly a dozen more have succumbed to chronic illnesses that went untreated due to the circumstances.

The strike on the Greek Orthodox church in October resulted in the tragic deaths of several children. The killings of the two women by snipers garnered widespread condemnation, including from Pope Francis. However, the Israel Defense Forces have consistently denied responsibility for their deaths.

In addition to the violence, the region is grappling with a persistent humanitarian crisis. ACN noted that the scarcity of fuel and electricity has rendered water pumps inoperable, forcing residents to manually extract water from wells. Access to medical care has also deteriorated significantly, and even basic tasks such as charging cell phones have become challenging.

ACN has collaborated with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to provide essential aid, including medicine, food, and funding for medical procedures. However, the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure has cast uncertainty on the future of Christians in the region.

According to a project partner, 62% of houses have been destroyed, and the reconstruction process is expected to extend for decades. The plight of Christians in the area remains uncertain, prompting a plea for prayers and solidarity from those aware of their suffering.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that a Jewish student at Columbia University is suing the institution over what she perceives as a surge in antisemitism following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

Mackenzie Forrest, a 23-year-old graduate student, filed the lawsuit against the Ivy League school, alleging discrimination due to her Orthodox Jewish faith and observance of the Sabbath, as per Bloomberg News.

Forrest said protests advocating for the genocide of Jews and the circulation of antisemitic materials within the School of Social Work, where she was enrolled, created an overtly hostile environment after the Hamas attack on Israel. She claims that the university's failure to enforce its own conduct rules to prevent antisemitic harassment and intimidation violated her rights under Title VI of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Brooke Goldstein, Founder and Executive Director of the Lawfare Project, said that Columbia University neglected to protect Forrest from antisemitism and instead engaged in a retaliatory campaign. Forrest sought accommodations to continue her studies remotely due to safety concerns but alleges that the university dismissed her request, even suggesting that she might fail if she did not participate in the in-person program.

The complaint also mentions an incident where Forrest's academic advisor dismissed her safety concerns and refused her request to attend classes online, despite allowing others to do so for different reasons. Additionally, before joining the program, Forrest informed Professor André Ivanoff, the program's director, of her Sabbath observance, to which Ivanoff allegedly responded with ambivalence.

Forrest eventually withdrew from the program, claiming that the university administration attempted to portray her withdrawal as voluntary, despite it being influenced by the unsafe environment and lack of accommodation. Similar lawsuits have been initiated by students at other prestigious universities, including Harvard University, New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, Berkeley.