Palestinians protest against Hamas
In a rare display of public defiance, hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza protested against Hamas for a second day, chanting “Hamas out,” “We want to eat,” and “We want an end to the war.” (Times of Israel) Zooming out: The protests are the largest in Gaza since the war started and broke out as fighting and evacuations resumed, ending a ceasefire that had given residents a fleeting sense of stability and hope. The death toll has climbed again — surpassing 50,000 on Sunday, according to the local health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. (CNN)
What they’re saying: “I think the protests are coming really at an important time where Hamas is really being pushed from all sides — the Israeli government, the U.S. government, Palestinians writ large,” said one Middle East expert. (NBC News)
Plus… The site of the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival has become one of Israel’s busiest tourist destinations, drawing more than 200,000 visitors each month. (JTA)
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killing of two Palestinian reporters in Gaza on Monday and urged an investigation to determine if they were intentionally targeted. (Washington Post)
Hamdan Ballal, the Oscar-winning Palestinian director of No Other Land, says he was blindfolded for more than 20 hours, kicked, punched, and hit by Israeli soldiers after being detained following an attack by settlers in the West Bank area featured in the documentary. (AP)
The Knesset is set to hold final votes Wednesday on a contentious bill that would give politicians far greater control over appointing judges, weakening the judiciary’s influence and fueling the coalition’s broader judicial overhaul. (Times of Israel) | 