Ms. Rachel posted about children in Gaza. The reaction that followed was intense
In her feed, you'll usually find posts about potty training tips and collaborations with organic yogurt companies. More recently, however, she's also begun using her influence on social media to talk about how the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has affected children in the region.
This move has created quite a controversy, to the point where some have called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether Ms. Rachel is being paid by Hamas.
Today on Commotion, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud chats with author Jael Richardson and Vulture TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk about the reaction and criticism Ms. Rachel is getting for speaking up amidst the ongoing conflict.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
42 minutes ago
- National Post
Vivian Bercovici: Yet another horror shakes the Mideast
Article content Horrified, hundreds of Druze from Majdal Shams — a city of 15,000 in the Golan Heights — crossed into Syria, unauthorized, of course. They were intent on defending their brethern under attack. The IDF was caught by surprise and urged these men to return to their homes. Article content Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to frustration from the White House by explaining that Israel was protecting its Druze citizens. Trump, reportedly, was unconvinced. Article content The Druze in Majdal have long been less than friendly towards Israel. Unlike the Druze living elsewhere in Israel, most inhabitants of Majdal refused to accept Israeli citizenship and ID cards, fearing that this would be seen as loyalty to the enemy by the Syrian government — and the backlash would be felt by their families there. Majdal Druze do not serve in the IDF, again, unlike most Israeli Druze. Article content But it has been a rough year for the Druze of Majdal Shams. Article content One year ago, on Saturday, July 27, 2024, the main soccer pitch in Majdal Shams was packed with families and young soccer players attending regular matches. Hezbollah shot a rocket, which slammed directly into the gathering. Twelve children and youth, aged 10 to 16, were murdered in that unprovoked attack. Forty-two were injured. The carnage devastated the town. Article content Article content Since the fall of the Assad government, long-standing tensions between the Bedouin and Druze in this part of Syria have erupted into violence periodically. The attack on Sweida, however, was of a different order of magnitude. Article content Multiple sources report a very sharp reaction from Trump, who was 'taken by surprise' when informed about the Israeli strikes in Syria. And, apparently, none too pleased. Article content Also last week, Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria, commented to media: 'We told the Israelis to stand down and take a breath.' Article content Almost immediately after the American anger was expressed, Israeli ground incursions were drawn down and peace talks between Israel and Syria resumed. Or so we were told. Article content White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump was 'caught off guard' by the Israeli military attacks in Syria and spoke with Netanyahu to 'rectify' the situation. Senior Trump administration officials have referred to Netanyahu in very harsh, derogatory terms as a leader who is incorrigible and focused solely on his political survival. Article content Article content In recent days all has gone quiet. Nothing. No information. No news. Article content No updates on the condition or whereabouts of the many female hostages taken by the Bedouin attackers. Article content However, Thursday was a very busy day in the region. U.S. Envoy Barrack met in Paris with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad al-Shaibani. It is the first time in 25 years that senior Syrian and Israeli officials have met face to face. And according to Barrack, significant progress was made with respect to discussing terms of engagement in Syria and protection of the Druze. Article content Also on Thursday, Netanyahu met with the leading Druze Israeli cleric, Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif. Israel is not budging from its position as prime protector of the Druze in the region. And he is clearly working to address America's alarm regarding the recent hostilities in Syria. Article content President Trump likes al-Julani/al-Sharaa. And he is keen to have him be a part of an economic alliance in the Middle East that will transform the region. Trump likes deals. Article content What he overlooks is al-Julani's long and deep terrorist past. The man led a loosely aligned group of fundamentalist militias to overthrow Assad. Whether he can coalesce them into a properly functioning government for all Syrians remains to be seen.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
At least 25 people killed by Israeli gunshots and strikes in Gaza, some while seeking aid
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 25 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and gunshots overnight, according to health officials and the ambulance service on Saturday, as ceasefire talks appear to have stalled and Palestinians in Gaza face famine. The majority of victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel, said staff at Shifa hospital, where the bodies were brought. Israel's army didn't respond to request for comments about the latest shootings. Those killed in strikes include four people in an apartment building in Gaza City among others, hospital staff and the ambulance service said. The strikes come as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have hit a standstill after the U.S and Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, throwing the future of the talks into further uncertainty. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his government was considering 'alternative options' to ceasefire talks with Hamas. His comments came as a Hamas official said negotiations were expected to resume next week and portrayed the recall of the Israeli and American delegations as a pressure tactic. Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks alongside the United States, said the pause was only temporary and that talks would resume, though they did not say when. For desperate Palestinians a ceasefire can't come soon enough. The United Nations and experts say that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition. While Israel's army says it's allowing aid into the enclave with no limit on the number of trucks that can enter, the U.N. says it is hampered by Israeli military restrictions on its movements and incidents of criminal looting. The Zikim crossing shootings come days after at least 79 Palestinians were killed trying to reach aid entering through the same crossing. Israel's military said at the time its soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians who posed a threat, and that it was aware of some casualties. Israel is facing increased international pressure to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More then two dozen Western-aligned countries and more than 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, harshly criticizing Israel's blockade and a new aid delivery model it has rolled out. The charities and rights groups said even their own staff were struggling to get enough food Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. For the first time in months Israel said it is allowing airdrops, requested by Jordan. A Jordanian official said the airdrops will mainly be food and milk formula. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in a newspaper article on Saturday that the U.K. was 'working urgently' with Jordan to get British aid into Gaza. Aid group the World Central Kitchen said on Friday that it was resuming limited cooking operations in Deir al-Balah after being forced to halt due to a lack of food supplies. It said it's trying to serve 60,000 meals daily through its field kitchen and partner community kitchens, less than half of what it's cooked over the previous month. ———————— Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt
Canada News.Net
6 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Netanyahu gets nod from Trump to widen war in Gaza
WASHINGTON DC — Just weeks after expressing optimism that a ceasefire deal in Gaza was within reach, U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed course, withdrawing his negotiators from talks and signaling support for Israel to intensify its military campaign, despite growing global concern over starvation and suffering in the Palestinian enclave. The White House decision to suspend involvement in ceasefire negotiations came amid what it described as frustration with Hamas, which Trump administration officials claimed have been disorganized and unwilling to engage in good faith. Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy to the Middle East, confirmed this week that he is now exploring "alternative options" to secure the release of remaining hostages. He did not comment on the plight of the more than two million Palestinians who are being constantly bombarded, shot to death, and starved. Rather than press for a return to negotiations, Trump appeared to back Israeli escalation during comments to reporters Friday before departing for a weekend trip to Scotland. "I think they want to die, and it's very, very bad," he said of Hamas. "It got to be to a point where you're gonna have to finish the job." As CNN reported, it remains unclear whether Trump's remarks reflect a genuine collapse in talks or a calculated strategy to pressure Hamas into concessions. Nevertheless, the president's tone marked a shift from earlier this month, when he had suggested a deal was imminent. Despite Trump's public pessimism, Egypt and Qatar—key mediators in the region—described the latest pause in negotiations as routine given the complexities involved. In a joint statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries said they would continue efforts toward a lasting truce. A senior Israeli official, speaking to CNN, also insisted that negotiations had "not at all" collapsed and suggested they could still resume. However, the U.S. withdrawal sent shockwaves through Doha, the Qatari capital hosting the talks. "This is an earthquake," one source familiar with the process told CNN. "We're dealing with the aftershock." The unresolved issues reportedly include the timing and conditions of a permanent ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the Israeli military's future presence in Gaza. Underscoring the indifference of Israel's concern for hostages, Hamas said they were shocked at the U.S. claim, saying the return of the hostages had not yet come up in negotiations, and were scheduled to be discussed next week. Regardless, speaking from the South Lawn of the White House on Friday, before departing for a tour of his golf resort in Scotland, Trump placed blame for the impasse squarely on Hamas. "Now we're down to the final hostages," he said. "And they know what happens after you get the final hostages... they really didn't want to make a deal." The president's comments appeared intended to provoke movement from Hamas, even as some U.S. officials maintained that negotiations could still be salvaged. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told CNN that both Trump and Witkoff remained committed and were exploring all available tools. "We've tried. The world has watched this," Bruce said. "There are many tools in President Trump's tool chest." Yet no timeline has been provided for when—or if—a deal might come together, even after Trump's earlier assertion in July that an agreement was just days away. "Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff got it right. Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X on Friday night. "Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region." Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. During a meeting Friday in Tunis, Tunisian President Kais Saied handed Trump's senior Africa adviser Massad Boulos photographs of malnourished children, highlighting the urgency of delivering aid. "It is absolutely unacceptable," Saied said, according to AFP. "It is a crime against all of humanity." At the White House, Trump deflected blame, accusing Hamas of blocking humanitarian supplies and defending U.S. contributions. "We gave $60 million to food and supplies and everything else," he said. "We hope the money gets there… the food gets taken." However, according to CNN, an internal U.S. government review found no evidence that Hamas has systematically stolen American-funded aid in Gaza. International criticism of Israel's military actions is also mounting. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Israel's campaign as "indefensible" on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would recognize a Palestinian state at September's UN General Assembly—an announcement that drew sharp rebuke from Israel and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump, for his part, appeared unbothered. Referring to Macron, he said, "He's a very good guy. I like him. But that statement doesn't carry weight." Meantime rallies protesting the plight of the Gazans have erupted around the world. Even in Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of people gathered in Habima Square, not only demanding the return of the hostages, but calling for an end to the so-called war in Gaza.
