Hamas is reasserting control in Gaza following the end of the ceasefire with Israel, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his company in a landmark social media addiction trial, and the US military reported strikes on alleged drug boats, resulting in multiple fatalities. These events, spanning international conflict, legal battles, and military operations, dominated headlines recently.
In Gaza, Hamas is reportedly extending its control, according to BBC World, despite suffering heavy losses during the conflict with Israel. The war, which ended with a US-imposed ceasefire in October, left the group's military units fragmented and infrastructure largely destroyed. The Hamas-run health ministry reported that over 72,000 Gazans were killed during the conflict. However, four months later, Gazans are reporting that Hamas is again extending its control over several areas.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta Platforms, testified in court, defending his company against claims that it targeted young users. According to BBC Technology and BBC Business, Zuckerberg struggled to defend Meta from accusations presented in a landmark trial concerning the addictive nature of social media platforms like Instagram. He maintained that lawyers were "mischaracterising" internal communications. This was Zuckerberg's first appearance before a jury amid growing criticism of Meta, which also owns WhatsApp and Facebook.
In other news, the US military launched strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, resulting in multiple fatalities. According to The Guardian, American forces targeted three boats, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest days of the Trump administration's campaign against alleged traffickers. The military action on Monday brought the number of fatalities caused by US strikes to 145 since September.
In related news, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are dealing with the impact of US sanctions. Kimberly Prost, an ICC judge, stated that the sanctions were "coercive measures designed to attack our ability to do our jobs objectively and independently," according to The Guardian. The sanctions, imposed by the Trump administration, have led to issues such as cancelled credit cards and closed Google accounts for the judges.
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment