Thousands of Israel supporters gathered Tuesday to stand behind the military campaign against Hamas, demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza and condemn an increase in antisemitic incidents across the nation and world. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported early Wednesday local time that its troops went into Gaza City's Al Shifa Hospital in an operation targeting Hamas forces. The move came after the Biden administration today said for the first time that the U.S. has information Hamas is concealing military operations and hiding hostages under hospitals. "We call upon all Hamas terrorists present in the hospital to surrender," the Israeli Defense Forces said on X.
The organizers of the Washington rally, the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, described the effort as "an opportunity for all Americans to come together in solidarity with the people of Israel to demonstrate our commitment to America’s most important ally" in the region. Demonstrators, many clad in the blue and white of the Israeli flag and carrying signs expressing support for the country, streamed onto the National Mall in Washington throughout the day.
➤TWH CONFIRMS HAMAS USING HOSPITAL: The White House confirmed Tuesday that Hamas terrorists are using Gaza's largest hospital, al-Shifa, and the tunnels beneath it as a base for military operations and to hold hostages. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made the confirmation during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, backing up what the Israeli military had been saying for weeks as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue their ground operation in the Gaza strip. "I can confirm for you that we have information that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad used some hospitals in the Gaza strip, including al-Shifa, and tunnels underneath them to conceal and support their military operations and to hold hostages," Kirby said.
➤BIDEN CHALLENGED OVER BACKING OF ISRAEL: More than 500 U.S. officials sent a letter Tuesday to President Joe Biden criticizing his policy in the Israel-Hamas war and calling for an immediate cease-fire, revealing a divide between Biden and many within his administration over his backing of Israel. The letter, reported Tuesday by the New York Times, reflects the opposition Biden faces from many progressives - even some who work for him - for his unflinching support for Israel as it ratchets up airstrikes in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel. The signees, who span 40 government agencies and include political appointees and staffers, are remaining anonymous, the Times reported, citing concerns of losing their jobs and their personal safety.
Hours after a meeting at the White House where they pushed for immediate action to bring their loved ones home, @lesterholtnbc spoke with families of Americans taken during the Hamas terror attacks in Israel. pic.twitter.com/TOKLoa9txx
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) November 15, 2023
➤GOVT. SHUTDOWN AVERTED: The House approved a temporary measure to fund the government and avert a catastrophic shutdown Tuesday, kicking the can down the road once again for Congress to pass a longer-term deal to keep the government’s doors open for Americans. The stopgap bill led by newly installed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., – referred to as a continuing resolution – passed the lower chamber by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 336-95. Johnson and House Republican leaders have touted the continuing resolution as a conservative victory, but the bill, which was Johnson’s first major test of his speakership, didn’t sail through the House without heartache from its hard-right members, who were adamant that any funding plan include spending cuts or conservative policy priorities.
➤SENATE HEARING GETS TESTY: Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin invited a Teamsters boss to throw down in a fit of anger over the union leader's mean tweets. Mullin, a Republican former mixed martial arts fighter, challenged International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to fistfight in the middle of a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and rose from his seat before Sen. Bernie Sanders, the committee chairman, ordered him to sit down. Tension spiked in the committee room as Mullin veered from a defense of so-called “right to work” states like Oklahoma, which are inhospitable to labor unions, to reading aloud from tweets O'Brien had posted after the two clashed during a June hearing.
Congress should just merge with the UFC, would probably got a lot of debates settled. pic.twitter.com/wImBh7ZySF
— Royce Chamberlin (@RoyceChamberlin) November 15, 2023
➤SANTOS' FUNDRAISER PLEADS GUILTY: George Santos' campaign fundraiser pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of wire fraud, the latest staffer for New York's embattled Republican congressman facing criminal charges. USA TODAY and multiple other news outlets have reported that Miele previously identified himself as the chief of staff for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. A release from the Department of Justice confirming Sam Miele's plea does not name the staffer. Miele, who was indicted in August, is the second Santos campaign staffer to plead guilty to criminal charges. Former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks admitted to a series of charges last month, including conspiring with a congressional candidate to commit wire fraud. Santos himself is also facing a slate of charges, though he has maintained innocence, pleading not guilty to 13 felony charges in May, Miele's sentencing is set for April, 2024, the same month as Marks. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The beating took place near Rancho High School. Family members told police that Lewis was brain-dead Nov. 7 at a hospital and that they made plans that day to donate his organs, homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said. The Clark County medical examiner's office concluded the cause of death was blunt force trauma, with the manner of death being homicide.
➤3 DEAD, 15 INJURED IN OHIO CRASH INVOLVING BUS CARRYING BAND STUDENTS: Three people are dead and at least 15 are injured after a fiery crash involving a bus carrying band students in Ohio, according to police. The deadly incident took place on Interstate 70, about 26 miles east of Columbus near the State Route 310 interchange in Licking County, where a semitruck is understood to have rear-ended the bus at around 8:50 a.m. It is unclear if any of the deceased victims are students, and the cause of the collision was not immediately known. There were 57 people traveling on the bus, an official said.
Five vehicles, including a charter bus carrying marching band students, were involved in A deadly crash on I-70 in eastern Ohio. Officials SAY at least six people are dead and dozens are injured. @Alex_Presha has more. https://t.co/yHEwTvTdra pic.twitter.com/HFzz51ocXV
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 15, 2023
FDNY blames e-scooter battery for fire that kills 3 family members https://t.co/9kXLg3oWzO
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 15, 2023
➤TEXAS APPROVES BILL ALLOWING POLICE TO ARREST PEOPLE WHO CROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY: The state House of Representatives approved immigration bills Tuesday that would appropriate more than $1.5 billion for additional border barriers and make illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border a state crime. Senate Bill 3 would allocate $1.54 billion for border barriers and to pay for state troopers to patrol Colony Ridge, a housing development near Houston that far-right publications claim is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.
🏈JETS CUT RB MICHAEL CARTER, PLAYERS CLEAR AIR IN MEETING: The New York Jets held a players-only meeting on Tuesday and, in a surprising move, waived running back Michael Carter. "The guys talked, and we had the floor," wide receiver Garrett Wilson said during his weekly spot on the "Bart & Hahn Show." "It was just us. We got to make sure we're all on the same page about where we're at and how the hell we get out of this funk, man" Wilson continued.
Arrest made in death of Adam Johnson, Minnesota native whose throat was cut during UK hockey game https://t.co/DnM7LjmT59
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) November 15, 2023
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