“(Gazans) don't care about the details (of a possible cease-fire) at this stage; they just want it over,” veteran war correspondent Arwa Damon told “NewsNation Now.”

“They want the drones to stop buzzing, they want the bombings to stop, they want to stop losing people who they love. They want to be able to at least start to visualize what's going to happen next.”

The Biden administration, which provides Israel crucial military and diplomatic support, says it opposes a Rafah invasion unless Israel provides a “credible” plan for protecting civilians there.

For Damon, it’s hard to imagine what that opposition would look like given the steadfast U.S. support of Israel’s campaign up until now.

“What does that mean? Does that mean that the U.S. will threaten to or actually cut off the weapons supply and decrease funding? I mean, at this stage, that's the big concern,” said Damon. “No matter what we've been hearing from the U.S. side, it has just been rhetoric.”

The Israel-Hamas war has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes, caused vast destruction in several towns and cities, and pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine. The death toll in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people, according to local health officials, and the territory’s entire population has been driven into a humanitarian catastrophe.

International mediators are trying to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, and a leaked truce proposal hints at compromises by both sides after months of stalemated negotiations.

“Even if there is a temporary cease-fire, this continuous threat that's coming from the Israeli government still exists no matter what. This Rafah invasion is still going to happen,” said Damon. “And so it's just this crazy roller coaster of emotions for them right now.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

As of Wednesday, ATCEMS responded to about 70 suspected overdoses, but there could be more as the week continues.

When ATCEMS was asked if all eight deaths involved in this outbreak were opioid-related, they told NewsNation affiliate KXAN, "I do know those eight were suspected of being opiate-related."

ATCEMS said they responded to 37 overdoses on Monday, 27 on Tuesday and seven on Wednesday.

“It is apparent there is a deadly batch of illicit narcotics in our community,” APD Asst. Chief Eric Fitzgerald said in a Tuesday press conference.

Following the influx of calls, EMS, the homeless strategy office, urban alchemy and nonprofits, like Texas Harm Reduction Alliance hit the ground to distribute Narcan.

ATCEMS said they distributed more than 400 doses to fight back against all the overdoses.

"Unquestionably it is helping," said ATCEMS spokesperson Captain Christa Stedman. "We have seen in just a number of days the numbers dramatically decline. That is a great thing and I think it speaks to the incredible work that our community health paramedic team and our partners have done in essentially flooding the city with Narcan. It is so easy to use you, don't hardly need any training."

Texas Harm Reduction Alliance said following the outbreak of overdoses, they, too, had teams out on the streets distributing Narcan.

THRA handed out more than 100 doses of NARCAN on Tuesday.

"We sourced more Narcan from other people in the community and made sure to have enough and then we went out and we made a point to talk to every single person we encountered about the risk of overdose, what's happening in the supply for people who maybe previously did not want to use Narcan," said Lily Hughes with Texas Harm Reduction Alliance. "We took extra time to do training and talk them through, and made sure every single person we talked to knew what was going on."

ATCEMS said the majority of the overdose calls started in downtown Austin, but later spread to other areas of Austin.

“When we see outbreaks like this, the suspicion is, essentially, there’s a new ‘batch’ in town,” City EMS Captain Christa Stedman said during the briefing. “It’s fairly likely that it’s from the same couple of sources because of the similar signatures that we’re seeing in the symptoms.”

APD's Narcotics Support Unit is actively pursuing leads to locate and arrest others who might be involved in distributing the illicit drugs involved with this incident.

APD has not released any information about the two suspects at this time, but there could be more arrests.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service in English and Spanish for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

You can reach them by calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit www.samhsa.gov and use the online treatment locator.

The FBI has already warned the Israel-Hamas war could inspire terrorist attacks for years to come. That's in addition to threats already posed by homegrown extremists from countries like Iran, China and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sees domestic and international developments trending in his favor and likely will press on with aggressive tactics in Ukraine, but the war is unlikely to end soon, the top U.S. intelligence official said on Thursday.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia intensified strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure to hamper Kyiv's ability to move arms and troops, slow defense production and force it to consider negotiations.

"Putin's increasingly aggressive tactics against Ukraine, such as strikes on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure, are intended to impress Ukraine that continuing to fight will only increase the damage to Ukraine and offer no plausible path to victory," she said.

Haines went on to say artificial intelligence is being used by Russia to try to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Haines was asked whether the protests on college campuses were inspired in part by disinformation from China, Russia or Iran. She said that there's no evidence of that at this time.

Reuters contributed to this story.

“Anytime you have a military occupation on college campuses, it is clear that there's been a moral meltdown and a spiritual breakdown,” West told “NewsNation Now.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Wednesday that about 170 of the 280 arrested at Columbia University and City College the night before have received summonses. The remaining 100 or so cases will be making their way through the court system, with the earliest arraignments later Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.

West said the protesting students are following a tradition of activism akin to the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War protesters.

“If you fundamentally believe as I do, and so many of the students, that genocide is the lowest litmus test when it comes to morality and spirituality, you have to do something,” said West. “You put your body on the line, and you cast a spotlight on it so people can begin to see.”

West said the protesting students are also bringing attention to the widespread destruction of universities and education facilities in Gaza amid Israel’s war on Hamas.

“We're talking about universities. All the universities in Gaza have been leveled,” said West. “There are thousands and thousands of students who have been murdered. Professors have been murdered. Over 100 journalists have been killed.”

That’s a full decade earlier than the previous guidance of 50 years old. The independent task force says changes in cancer rates led them to update the guidance.

“More women in their 40s have been getting breast cancer, with rates increasing about 2% each year, so this recommendation will make a big difference for people across the country,” task force chair Wanda Nicholson said in an official statement. “By starting to screen all women at age 40, we can save nearly 20% more lives from breast cancer overall.”

Researchers need more information to determine whether additional screening might help women with dense breasts maintain their health, according to a task force news release.

“We know that (with) dense breast tissue, we’re more likely to see cancers,” said Dr. Erika Hamilton, director of breast cancer research at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute. “We’re more likely to have those missed on mammograms. Just recently, actually, it was required that breast density be disclosed on all mammogram reports.”

Screening earlier and more often could be especially beneficial for Black women, who are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. They also tend to develop deadly cancers at younger ages, according to the USPSTF.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the U.S.

“I think it's a result of campus authorities struggling to find the balance between allowing the pro-Palestinian students and those in that one encampment to express themselves and at the same time protecting the campus overall,” said Benjamin Radd, a lecturer on Middle East politics.

The Los Angeles Police Department arrived on campus, donning riot gear and gas masks, after a request from the university for assistance.

“What we're seeing is an utter breakdown of, I think, that ability for the campus to really serve the community as a whole. And it's regretful,” said Radd.

UCLA canceled classes Wednesday and urged people to avoid the area where the fighting broke out. The school's library won't reopen until Monday, and Royce Hall, which authorities said was vandalized, is closed through Friday. UCLA stationed law enforcement officers throughout campus.

“It's horrific, and it's gone way beyond what the university should have tolerated,” said Radd. “So quite frankly, I think (UCLA) should take the steps that we saw at Columbia and other universities and dismantle the encampment.”

Israel and its supporters have branded the university protests as antisemitic, while Israel’s critics say they use those allegations to silence opposition. Although some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic remarks or violent threats, organizers of the protests, some of whom are Jewish, say it is a peaceful movement aimed at defending Palestinian rights and protesting the war.

The aerospace and defense company is tasked with developing a successor to what some call the "Doomsday" plane for its purported ability to survive a nuclear war. The Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project is intended to replace an older aircraft approaching the end of its service life, Reuters reported, citing an Air Force spokesperson.

The Sierra Nevada Corp. is expected to complete its work by 2036.

Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, a NewsNation senior national contributor, joined “NewsNation Now” to break down why the upgrade is happening and what it means.

“It’s been many decades since this aircraft has been effectively put into service, and it’s done a great job ... but it’s now time to update the aircraft and modernize it,” Newton said.

What is a "Doomsday" plane?

The nation’s current model, known as the E-4B “Nightwatch,” is a militarized version of a Boeing 747-200. The high-altitude airplane is capable of refueling in flight and is divided into six functional work areas, according to the U.S. Air Force.

At 231 feet in length and 195 feet in wingspan, the aircraft has an advanced satellite communications system, a conference room, a communications center, and nuclear and thermal effects shielding. It can be refueled mid-air and can operate for 35.4 hours.

It’s protected against the effects of electromagnetic pulses and can foster worldwide communication for senior leaders.

Why does the Air Force have "Doomsday" planes?

In the event of a national emergency or destruction of ground command centers, the planes can act as a “highly survivable” communications and control center so leaders can issue emergency orders.

The E-4B also offers support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which helps aid in communication in post-natural disaster relief efforts.

However, the current fleet is due for an upgrade.

Over the next several years, Sierra Nevada will build SAOC to include modern, secure communication and planning capabilities, according to DefenseNews.

Why are the upgrades happening now?

The Air Force currently operates four E-4B aircraft with at least one on alert at all times, Reuters reported. The current fleet, however, relies on parts that are increasingly becoming obsolete, making the vehicles difficult and costly to maintain.

Although the aircraft are designed to withstand nuclear blasts, upgrades to the planes aren’t ushering in an impending nuclear disaster, Newton said.

He said the U.S. government must instead keep pace with global threats and modern technology.

“Certainly, you’ve got Russia invading Ukraine,” Newton said. “You’ve got Israel being attacked by Hamas and recently by Iran. China is ever-growing their military forces and their nuclear forces as well. It’s now time for the United States to lead, (and) this is why we need to pay very close attention to our adversaries but also continue to modernize our military capabilities.”

Reuters contributed to this story.

Netanyahu said Israel would enter Rafah to destroy Hamas' battalions there "with or without a deal." Israel and Hamas are negotiating a cease-fire agreement meant to free hostages and bring some relief to the Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

A potential timeline is unclear.

The Biden administration has asked Netanyahu to hold off on invading Rafah — at least until a plan is in place to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid.

This morning, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said Israeli officials understand their concern.

Israel’s prime minister, however, vowed to move forward with his long-promised assault on Rafah — with or without a cease-fire or hostage deal.

It’s unclear how that could complicate negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Jordan Tuesday to work on delivering more aid to Gaza. He’s been overseas working to hash out a deal.

Blinken on Monday called the deal before Hamas an extraordinarily generous deal on the part of Israel.

Biden spoke on the phone with the amir of Qatar and the president of Egypt Monday about a potential cease-fire and hostage agreement.

President Biden additionally spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday about the hostage deal, cease-fire and potential Rafah operation.

 “There is a deal on the table, and they need to take it,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We believe that all efforts need to be brought to bear to convince Hamas to accept the proposal immediately.”

The U.S. is working to get more aid into Gaza. The long-awaited humanitarian pier that Biden promised in his State of the Union address is now under construction. It’s set to cost $320 million, and Israel is expected to provide security.

There were no injuries in a recent mortar attack at the port site.

Hamas has said it would reject the presence of any non-Palestinians in Gaza, but no militant group immediately claimed responsibility.

The White House is still planning on an in-person meeting with Israeli officials to discuss Rafah operations.

So far, they have had two virtual meetings on the matter, which Jean-Pierre called “productive.”

They have yet to see a credible Rafah plan.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

“We teach our students to not only utilize their voice but to also make sure that they are paying attention to the world around them,” Imani Cheers told “NewsNation Now” on Friday. "We want to help them become the change that they want to see in the world.”

Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University.

The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza — and in some cases from Israel itself.

Cheers said she’s been so inspired by the students’ voices that she wanted her son to witness it.

“As I explained to my 10-year-old son, who I also took with me yesterday to this current encampment that is directly across the street from my office ... I wanted him to see that every major liberation movement across the globe, but in particular, in the United States, has been started by young people.”

About 50 students at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., set up a tent encampment on the school’s University Yard on Thursday. Later in the day, a group of Georgetown University students and professors staged their own protest walkout and marched to the George Washington campus to join them. Like other protests, demonstrators are demanding that the university divest from Israel and lift a suspension against a prominent pro-Palestinian student group.

Cheers said she wanted her son to see that people not much older than him can make a difference.

“This is not me speaking as a faculty member, but as a parent. I have been raising my son to be very anti-apartheid,” Cheers said. “I grew up in South Africa; my son is half South African. So it's very important. We've had these larger conversations. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the first democratic elections in South Africa's history, which brought Nelson Mandela, a longtime anti-apartheid activist, to become Africa's first president.”

The university, however, canceled its commencement ceremony amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The cancelation is the latest development in what MohEyeldin called a “pattern of constant overreaction.”

Protests began last week after the school canceled its valedictorian’s graduation speech. The administration cited safety concerns after valedictorian Asna Tabassum received backlash for posting about aid for Gaza.

MohEyeldin is disappointed in the decision, campus security’s handling of the protests and the news media’s coverage of the demonstrations.

“I’ve seen the coverage, and I don’t know about all the other universities in the country, but I can say that the coverage does not seem fair,” MohEyeldin said. “Yes, there was anger. There was frustration, but true escalations didn’t happen until we had DPS, campus security, and LAPD showing up in riot gear.”

The university’s campus is among those where pro-Palestinian protests have drawn national attention and a heavy police presence.  

Columbia University students took similar action last week. Protesters erected tents and stayed on campus in opposition to Israel’s military action in Gaza. The students are demanding the university divest from companies they say “profit from Israeli apartheid.”

Police have arrested scores of students at campuses throughout the country as tension builds, but it’s the police, not demonstrators, who escalated the protests on USC’s campus, MohEyeldin said.

“I think standing there, watching our campus security put the visors down on their helmets, take out their batons and turn to us was just a moment of deep, profound realization that this administration, they may represent its students, but it doesn’t represent me, and it certainly didn’t represent all of us who were at the protest,” she said.

At a recent sit-in, security told students their picnic blankets might lead to campus encampments, MohEyeldin said.

“I think this administration … (is) trying to learn from what’s happening on other campuses, and I think they’re trying to prevent campus disruption,” MohEyeldin said. “But I think they’re also facing a lot of pressure from outside forces, and that’s why they’ve reacted so catastrophically.”

Protesters have until Friday to remove their encampment. The university, however, has already backtracked on previous deadlines, which included one Tuesday.

“We have our demands; they have theirs,” said Columbia spokesperson Ben Chang.

Columbia officials said negotiations were showing progress as the school’s self-imposed early Friday deadline to reach an agreement on dismantling the encampment came and went. Nevertheless, two police buses were parked nearby, and there was a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus.

The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza — and, in some cases, from Israel itself.

The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliate WPIX in New York contributed to this report.

“The Jewish students here are absolutely amazing,” Rabbi Moshe Trepp told NewsNation on Thursday. “I'm so inspired by them, their courage, their strength and bravery. They show up and they're proud of who they are. They're not deterred."

UT-Austin is among the dozens of U.S. universities where protests over Israel’s handling of the war against Hamas has taken center stage, and at times have become tense.

At least 50 people, including a local photojournalist, were arrested during a Wednesday demonstration where police and state troopers in riot gear and on horseback forced hundreds of students off the school’s main lawn. Thursday’s protests were less confrontational.

Trepp hopes that trend continues.

Protesters "are given a space and as long as you follow the rules and the laws of campus, you'll have that space and your voices will be heard. But as soon as you become aggressive, violent, hurtful and offensive, the university will put a stop to it.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US House for passing the Israel aid bill. “The US Congress just overwhelmingly passed a much-appreciated aid bill that demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization. Thank you friends, thank you America!”

The adulation from Israel comes as the country prepares for an anticipated offensive on Rafah, where more than half of the territory’s people of 2.3 million have sought refuge. The Israeli military has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in the area in what appears to be preparations for an invasion despite calls for restrain by the U.S.

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages. Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

Israel’s ensuing bombardment and ground offensive have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local health authorities, and displaced some 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.

Ophir Falk, a foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, said Thursday that Israel will not be deterred.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government set a mission to destroy Hamas’ military and governing capabilities in Gaza, free the hostages and ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel and the rest of the civilized world in the future,” he said. “Those goals will be achieved.”

“There's no question she should resign,” Ortt, a Republican, said on “NewsNation Now.”

Inspired by ongoing protests and the arrests last week of more than 100 at Columbia University, students at a growing number of U.S. colleges are gathering in protest encampments with a unified demand of their schools: Stop doing business with Israel or any companies that support its ongoing war in Gaza.

“(Columbia administrators) have allowed outside groups SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine), which has direct ties to Hezbollah, as well as other terror groups in the Middle East,” said Ortt.

Israeli lobbying groups in the U.S. have accused SJP of being funded by Hamas; however, no known proof exists of a direct link between the student activist group and the militant group in the Palestinian territories.

Ortt also took aim at Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for calling in the National Guard to “search handbags and purses” on city subways but not deploying it to Columbia’s campus.

“Clearly, I believe the (National Guard) is needed'' at Columbia University, said Ortt.

Parents and other teachers wouldn't know who is armed. The bill would be Tennessee’s largest expansion of gun access since the March 27, 2023, shooting that killed six people at The Covenant School.

If it is signed into law, Tennessee will join about half of the nation’s states in allowing teachers or other employees with concealed carry permits to carry guns on school property in some way, according to the gun control advocacy group Giffords Law Center.

J.C. Bowman, executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, joined “NewsNation Now” and called the measure “unsafe.”

What happened?

Lawmakers voted 68-28 in favor of the bill. It now heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee for consideration.

Republicans rejected a series of Democratic amendments, including parental consent requirements, notification when someone is armed and the school district assuming civil liability for any injury, damage or death due to staff carrying guns, the Associated Press reported.

What do opponents say?

Those opposed to the bill say it lacks protocols and could put schools and their workers at risk.  

“Teachers are not equipped to handle live fire,” Bowman said. “Most of these (gunmen) are using AR-15s or other weapons … it just is going to be unsafe.”

What do proponents say?

Supporters of the effort, such as GOP state Sen. Paul Bailey, who sponsored the bill, argue it’s vital for rural areas with limited law enforcement and longer response times.

“Not all schools and school systems could afford a school resource officer,” Bailey said. “This was just another line of defense that … would be possible for schools to use, especially in the rural areas.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government said Israel was "moving ahead" with a ground operation, but gave no timeline.

The defense official said Israel's Defence Ministry had bought 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.

Video circulating online appeared to show rows of square white tents going up in Khan Younis, a city some 3 miles from Rafah. Reuters could not verify the video but reviewed images from satellite company Maxar Technologies which showed tent camps on Khan Younis land that had been vacant weeks ago.

An Israeli government source said Netanyahu's war cabinet planned to meet in the coming two weeks to authorize civilian evacuations, expected to take around a month.

The anticipated move into Rafah comes as U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed into law a bill that includes about $26 billion in aid for Israel and a surge of about $1 billion in humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza.

Reuters contributed to this story.

Kohberger is charged in the 2022 stabbing deaths of Idaho college students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

The case rocked the small town of Moscow, Idaho, and Kohberger's attorneys now say the potential jury pool will be too biased to provide Kohberger a fair trial.

In an attempt to challenge the trial's location, Kohberger's team hired a jury consultant to question locals and gauge how much they knew about the case. The consultant had issued the phone survey to about 400 Latah County residents by the time prosecutors objected to the practice earlier this month.

The questions and the details they communicated were a violation of a gag order in the case, prosecutors said.

Legal analyst Misty Marris clarified that it’s not uncommon for attorneys to send out surveys like the one in Kohberger’s case.

Even if the potential jury pool read about the case in the news, it doesn’t guarantee a change of venue, Marris added.

“In high-profile cases, there’s always going to be people in the jury pool who have heard of the case,” she said. “The fact that something is high profile alone does not lead to a change of venue. It’s up to the judge’s discretion whether or not there’s so much bias in a small community that another county will be tapped in to hold this trial.”

Marris said attorneys may instead follow a more stringent jury selection process to ensure that even those familiar with the case can remain impartial.

As the case unfolds, the public is learning new details about Kohberger’s defense.

He submitted a new alibi last week, claiming he was taking a night drive to see “the moon and the stars” the night of the stabbings.

“The prosecution has said that Kohberger’s cellphone pings put him in the location of the house,” Marris said. “We knew the defense was going to try to bring in an expert to try to contest that. What we didn’t know is that the defense is going to try and say that he was miles and miles away using their own forensic expert.”

The university recently canceled its valedictorian’s graduation speech, citing safety concerns after she received backlash for posting about aid for Gaza.

It’s one of the signs college unrest is beginning to spread in California.

In far Northern California, students at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, have taken over a campus building.

They are declaring solidarity with pro-Palestinian students at other colleges. The school is now closed through Wednesday. Administrators are calling the situation “dangerous and volatile.”

Local police made a number of arrests, and on Monday night, protesters gathered outside the jail to demand the release of activists who were taken into custody.

At the University of California, Berkeley, where anti-war protests became a staple in the 1960s, students are also calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

Activists have set up encampments outside an administration building, demanding the school end business with any companies linked to Israel. There are three weeks left in the current semester, and the university is taking steps to ensure there are no disruptions to school operations, officials said in a statement.

They also noted there are no plans to change the university’s investment policy.

At the University of Southern California, a number of recent protests have been sparked by the school’s decision to cancel its valedictorian’s commencement speech. Pro-Palestinian valedictorian Asna Tabassum was accused of antisemitic views. She and the Council on American-Islamic Relations have pushed back against those allegations.

The university has since canceled all speeches at its May 10 commencement.

The report comes after Israel claimed dozens of UNRWA workers took part in the Oct. 7 attacks.

“Our commissioner general has talked about a global campaign of misinformation that has been designed to mischaracterize and force distrust and tarnish the agency,” said Bill Deere, director of UNRWA’s Washington office. “This is, from our perspective, the third major milestone in debunking that narrative.”

The 48-page report released Monday suggests UNRWA has “robust” procedures to uphold the U.N. principle of neutrality, the Associated Press reported.

The report, however, cited gaps in implementation, including staff publicly expressing political views, textbooks used in schools the agency runs with “problematic content” and staff unions disrupting operations. It makes 50 recommendations to improve UNRWA’s neutrality.

“Like any organization, more can be done,” he said. “But just remember, that more is going to require the help of donor states and our regional partners.”

Israel’s allegations led to the suspension of contributions to UNRWA by the United States and more than a dozen other countries, according to AP. That caused a pause in funding worth about $450 million, according to the independent report.

Some countries, however, have resumed contributions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

“You can see that those peaceful students were in no way a clear and present danger. Not at all,” West told “NewsNation Now” on Friday. “They were siphoned off in front of the library; people could walk back and forth. And you had a number of people there trying to engage in what a university is supposed to be about: Socratic dialogue.”

New York police on Thursday removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University and arrested more than 100 demonstrators, including the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Police said 108 people, including Omar’s daughter Isra Hirsi, were charged with trespassing at the private Ivy League institution. Two people were also charged with obstructing government administration.

West, who was among those protesting, said he was “blessed” to be able to be there and lend support to the demonstrating students.

“I was deeply blessed to be in solidarity with my brothers and sisters zeroing in on that indescribable suffering in Gaza,” said West. “They were courageous, they were visionary, and they were holding their own even as the New York Police Department came in and made arrests.”

West was also adamant that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, pointing to the more than 30,000 killed, widespread hunger and displacement of Palestinians.

“We’ve got war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide,” West said. “But when you're talking about 15,000 precious Palestinian babies who have been killed in six months, and over 35,000 innocent people who have been killed in six months, that's a level of terrorism.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in November that “far too many” Palestinians have died in Israel’s war against the militant Hamas group in the Gaza Strip. He said he has urged Israel to minimize harm to civilians and maximize humanitarian assistance that reaches them.

“When you're killing innocent people, that's what terrorism is,” West said. “Any group that kills innocent people are (sic) involved in terrorist activity.”

West, however, pushed back on claims that Hamas itself is a terrorist organization. The Sunni Islamist political and military movement has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., European Union, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

“Hamas itself is not simply a military organization,” West said. “It's a service organization. They have infrastructure, provide food, they provide social services. Hamas is a part of Palestinian resistance.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the U.S. was not involved. U.S. officials don’t want to be pulled into a wider conflict. More information about what the U.S. knew in advance may come out of a White House news briefing taking place Friday afternoon.

The United States told G7 foreign ministers Friday that it received “last minute” information from Israel about a drone action in Iran but did not participate.

“Exercise restraint — that’s what we’ve been doing over the last couple of weeks, and, as necessary, that’s what we’ll continue to do,” Blinken said.

A statement from the G7 ministers said Iran’s actions “mark an unacceptable step toward the destabilization of the region and a further escalation, which must be avoided.”

“In light of reports of strikes on April 19th, we urge all parties to work to prevent further escalation,” the statement read.

The U.S., trying to handle the matter diplomatically, is looking at potential additional sanctions to hold parties accountable.

Kerry Kennedy, a daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, niece of former President John F. Kennedy and sister of the current presidential candidate, delivered the endorsements.

The decision to highlight the Kennedy family's support more than six months away from Election Day may be an indication of how seriously Biden's team is taking the threat of a long-shot candidate.

Kennedy Jr. played down the endorsements, writing on social media that his family was “divided in our opinions but united in our love for each other." He said his campaign was about “healing America.”

Given Kennedy Jr.'s unconventional political positions and the expectation this year's campaign will be decided by thin margins, both Democrats and Republicans worry that he could play the role of spoiler.

Kennedy Jr., however, notched his own victory Thursday as his campaign announced he’s qualified as a 2024 presidential candidate in the battleground state of Michigan.

Kennedy is backed by the Natural Law Party in Michigan, which worked to collect signatures and file paperwork to support his independent White House bid.

Michigan is arguably the most important state Kennedy has qualified for so far, with a little over six months to go until Election Day. He has earned enough support to appear in places like New Hampshire and Nevada, also considered battleground states, but the addition of Michigan makes Kennedy’s effort more serious.

Kennedy’s camp hopes to gather signatures across 50 states before their deadlines, but experts say he only needs a few key battlegrounds to potentially change the outcome on Election Day.

The Associated Press and NewsNation affiliate The Hill contributed to this report.

The murder trial for the Arizona rancher wrapped up with closing arguments Thursday. The state had requested more than 90 minutes, but the judge denied that request, saying he believes the jury has been given all of the facts repeatedly.

The state has accused Kelly of shooting and killing Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, a Mexican national who was on the private Kino Springs property.

One alleged eyewitness named Daniel claimed to be with Cuen-Buitimea, but defense attorneys attempted to poke holes in his testimony as they pointed out several discrepancies.  

Kelly is facing second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges for the Jan. 30, 2023, incident.

His defense says he fired warning shots to scare off the five people Kelly says he saw running through his property, possibly armed in camouflage with backpacks.

He maintains he didn’t shoot at anybody or hit anyone when he fired several shots from his rifle.

Kelly discovered the body after detectives scoured the area, but no bullet was ever recovered. 

That’s one of the reasons why Kelly and his team think things will go their way. 

The jury began deliberating soon as closing arguments ended. Kelly told NewsNation he expects a verdict Friday.

An Oklahoma judge ordered public defenders to represent four members of the anti-government group who appeared in court Wednesday on charges of kidnapping and killing two Kansas women.

The judge also entered not guilty pleas and denied bail for Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43, both of Keyes, Oklahoma, as well as Cole and Cora Twombly of Texhoma, Oklahoma.

All four are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the killing of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley of Hugoton, Kansas, who disappeared on May 30 while driving to Oklahoma to pick up Butler's children and attend a birthday party.

According to a witness who spoke to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents, all four suspects were part of “an anti-government group that had a religious affiliation." The affidavits said they called themselves “God’s Misfits” and held regular meetings at the home of the Twomblys and another couple who Adams said watched the children the day the women disappeared.

“(The case does) not seem even directly tied to what they believed in that group (God’s Misfits),” said Weber. “It seems to be, at the base of it, what we always suspected it was: A bitter custody dispute.”

Arrest affidavits painted a gruesome picture of the scene where the women's car was found, not far from the rural highway intersection where Butler had arranged to pick up her son and daughter from Adams. Investigators found blood on the road and Butler’s glasses near a broken hammer.

“It's a really disturbing case,” said Weber. “You have this grandmother who had custody of the children. Then you come to find out that today was supposed to be a hearing where one of those victims, Veronica Butler, would have potentially got unsupervised custody of the children.”

Weber said investigators will likely look into that motive more than the suspects’ affiliation with “God’s Misfits.”

“If you talk about having a motivation here, (the custody battle) is definitely something that prosecutors and investigators are looking at,” said Weber. “But just looking at the details that were listed in that probable cause affidavit, (prosecutors) have a strong case.”

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond's comments come after a group of migrants were seen on video driving a speedboat onto a San Diego beach.

“I talked to somebody familiar with the salvage company and they said that they pick up about four boats a week that are just abandoned on our beaches,” Desmond said.

The city’s options are limited because local police can’t enforce federal immigration matters.

“Law enforcement is forbidden from enforcing any immigration laws,” he said. “So even if the police were right behind that car that picked up all those people, there’s no reason from them to stop that car unless they were speeding or running a traffic light or something like that. If it’s just an immigration issue our local law enforcement can’t do a thing.”

The number of maritime smuggling events off the California coast increased from 308 in 2020 to 736 in 2023, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond told Reuters, citing U.S. data.

The women, last seen March 30, were involved in a contentious custody dispute. Investigators recovered two bodies over the weekend in the area, and while they haven’t been positively identified, four are now charged in connection with Butler and Kelley’s disappearance.

Grandmother Tifany Adams, 54; her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43; Cora Twombly, 44; and her husband Cole Twombly, 50, are each charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder.

Police on Tuesday towed a trailer from a property with ties to Cullum. Witnesses said they saw the white trailer in the area where the women were killed.

The suspects were all part of an anti-government group with religious affiliations called "God’s Misfits." It’s unclear whether the suspects’ involvement in the group is relevant to the women’s death and disappearance.

All four suspects are expected to appear in court Wednesday.

Fighting continues in Gaza, and amid fear of an escalating war, many nations, including the United States, are urging Israel to use restraint.

“I think it’s not only our right but also our obligation to defend our country, and I think that what we’re doing right now is trying to assess what our options are, not only in Israel but together with our international and regional allies in the Middle East,” Yinam Cohen, Midwest consul general for Israel, said on “NewsNation Now.”

In a Saturday attack, Iran launched more than 200 “killer drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles” toward Israel, according to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson.

Cohen didn’t say what action, if any, Israel is considering.

"I think what's really clear for us is we want to bring peace and stability to the Middle East ... and to do that, we cannot appease dictator regimes just like the Iranian regime," Cohen said.

Americans’ views of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which has civil control of some West Bank areas and controlled Gaza before Hamas, have dropped since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

Among Americans, 58% have a very or mostly favorable view of Israel, the lowest rating in more than two decades, while just 18% hold a positive view of the Palestinian Authority, the lowest since 2015, according to a Gallup World Affairs survey conducted in February.

Cohen, however, said U.S. President Joe Biden and European nations showed their commitment to Israel over the weekend. By his estimation, efforts by pro-Palestinian protestors haven’t been effective, he said.

“I really think that if these people are trying to get sympathy for their cause, this is not the right way to do it,” Cohen said. “They make a lot of people very angry, and I think they totally fail in what they’re trying to achieve.”

The situation began at about 1 p.m. Sunday when Border Patrol was alerted to a stabbing. A National Guard soldier who was deployed from Indiana to the El Paso area under Operation Lonestar shot the suspect, who subsequently ran south to Mexico.

The stabbing victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The bulletin warned of increased violence along the southern border and encouraged agents to wear body armor and remain vigilant.

The situation comes weeks after officials arrested four migrants charged with trying to cut through concertina wire installed along the Texas-Mexico border.

“They can attack an agent, and there’s literally no consequences,” said Art Del Cueto, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council.

Indiana’s National Guard said it’s aware of the situation and cares and supports for its soldiers deployed to the border.

"His case jump-started my career," Abrams said, acknowledging the guilt he feels for the deaths of Nicole Simpson Brown and Ron Goldman playing a role in his success.

When Abrams learned of Simpson’s death, his first thoughts were of two families: those mourning the man and woman for whose killings Simpson was tried and acquitted of nearly 30 years ago.

“My immediate thoughts were about the (Ron) Goldman and the (Nicole) Brown families,” Abrams said on “NewsNation Now.” “What were they thinking? What were they feeling on this day?”

Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, issued the following statement, urging the public’s focus to remain on his late son and Brown.

“This is just a reminder of how long Ron has been gone, how long we have missed him and nothing more than that,” Fred Goldman said. “That is the only thing that is important today. It is the pain from then until now. There is nothing today that is more important than the loss of my son and the loss of Nicole. Nothing is more important than that.”

Simpson, a former NFL player, was charged with but ultimately acquitted in the 1994 deaths of Brown and her friend, Goldman.

The trial drew major media attention, including from Abrams.

"I have never seen a case with more evidence go to trial than the O.J. Simpson case," Abrams said.

Some of the strongest evidence, however, was presented during a subsequent civil suit, he added.

Following the criminal trial, the Goldman and Brown families pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Simpson in civil court. Evidence brought forward during that trial included a photograph of Simpson wearing a pair of Size 12 Bruno Magli shoes that investigators had discovered at the crime scene and that Simpson had previously called ugly, claiming never to have worn them.

 “It was game over at that point,” Abrams said.

A predominately white jury found Simpson liable for the two deaths in 1997. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages.

Reuters contributed to this story.

“As I look back over my career in law enforcement, I would be hard-pressed to think of a time where so many threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at once,” Christopher Wray told lawmakers at a budget hearing Thursday.

“But that is the case as I sit here today."

The March 22 attack in a Moscow suburb killed at least 144 people, the deadliest such attack in Russia in 20 years. A branch of the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility, but Russian President Vladimir Putin, without citing evidence, has sought to blame Ukraine.

Former CIA agent Tracy Walder tells NewsNation that between the Israel-Hamas war and the recent attack in Russia, Americans may have a reason to be concerned.

“I was sitting in the counterterrorism center at CIA headquarters before, during and after September 11, and I have never seen this heightened of rhetoric and this heightened of a geopolitical situation as I do now,” Walder said.

Wray on Thursday cited the FBI’s concerns about terrorism to help persuade lawmakers to boost funding for the FBI, though he is likely to face strong pushback from congressional Republicans.

“(U.S. intelligence agencies) are essentially flying blind in terms of tracking terrorism because the reality is terrorism exists now mostly digitally,” said Walder. “That is how we are tracking it more so than in our human sources.”

Reuters contributed to this story.

“I looked below through the chin bubble of the helicopter, and there was a white Bronco,” said Tur. “And within a matter of minutes, it was one police unit after another until there was — I couldn't even count how many. With the flip of the switch, we had over 100 million viewers on live television. It was a very surreal event.”

Simpson’s family announced he died from cancer Wednesday.

His murder trial would go on to be one the biggest stories of the 1990s.

Tur still remembers the disbelief she felt covering the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

“This was a guy (Simpson) that played golf with presidents. This was a celebrity,” said Tur. “This guy was beamed into our homes every day with Hertz commercials. So you felt like you knew him. He lived two canyons over. I lived in Pacific Palisades. I knew O.J., I would wave and say, ‘Hi.’ And I knew his reputation for abuse. But I mean, this was shocking.”

The flight attendants are increasingly frustrated that pilots won huge pay raises last year while they continue to work for wages that, in some cases, have not increased in several years. They further say while they’ve been without a contract for two years, CEO Scott Kirby made nearly $19 million in 2023.

This week’s protest comes as negotiators return for the second round of a federally-mediated bargaining session. Since the pandemic, attendants say working conditions have deteriorated, with more passengers than ever exhibiting “abusive” behavior.

Scott Pejas, president of the Local United AFA Council 8, said workers have a slew of grievances.

“We have flight attendants who are eligible for food stamps because they haven't seen any raises even though the cost of living has gone up,” he said.

Attendants, he said, also lose out on pay during boarding and delays, during which United attendants are not paid.

“We're demanding that we get paid for all the time spent. Whether it's sitting at the airport during delays, weather or mechanical for five hours, we're not getting paid. It's time for the company to finally respect the flight attendants and give them the contract that they deserve.”

"We're a good-sized family and sometimes put in the shadow of a lot of things. It seemed like it made sense," Campana told NewsNation's national correspondent Caitlyn Becker, who happened to be nearby during the special moment.

"While everyone's looking that way (at the eclipse), we're gonna do something between the two of us," Campana said.

The 2024 solar eclipse is expected to be an economic boon for areas in the path of totality as tourists flocked to towns across America to view the phenomenon.

The next solar eclipse visible from the mainland U.S. won't be until 2044, marking Monday a rare opportunity.