Politics
U.S. punishes Israeli extremists accused of blocking, ransacking humanitarian aid for Gaza
The Biden administration took the unusual step Friday of blacklisting a group of Israelis implicated in the looting and destruction of lifesaving humanitarian aid destined for Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip after eight months of brutal war.
It is only the second time in recent years the U.S. has punished Israeli groups for their violent and sometimes deadly actions against Palestinians.
Last year, the State Department announced it was barring U.S. entry to dozens of Jewish settlers who attacked Palestinian villagers in the West Bank, destroyed their properties and attempted to seize their land.
Several hundred Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in recent months in these attacks and in Israeli military operations.
The latest U.S. measure targets a group known as Tzav 9, Hebrew for “Order 9,” a reference to call-up orders for Israeli reservists. U.S. officials say the group has ties to extremist Jewish settlers in West Bank settlements.
“For months, individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently, along their route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. “They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road.”
They have also burned aid trucks, he said. “We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence targeting this essential humanitarian assistance,” Miller said.
With negotiations for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war still unsuccessful, the inability of international organizations to get food, water and medicine into Gaza has deepened the suffering there, with more than a million Palestinians facing starvation. Aid agencies report that children are dying from malnutrition, and hundreds of people are dying from a lack of medical care. Most hospitals have been rendered inoperable by Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza.
Last month Israel closed the Rafah crossing on Gaza’s border with Egypt, a principal entry point for aid. The U.S. military built a pier into Gaza’s coast, but it has been plagued by high seas and other problems that have limited its use for delivering aid.
Tzav 9 claims it is stopping “gifts” from reaching Hamas, the militant group in Gaza whose attack on kibbutzim and a musical festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 left nearly 1,200 Israelis and others dead and triggered the current war.
At times Israeli extremists have filmed themselves in the act of blocking trucks, destroying cargo and dumping aid in the road.
More than 37,000 Palestinians — including vast numbers of civilians — have been killed by Israel’s air and land attacks in Gaza.
It is not clear what impact the new sanctions will have on the group. The U.S. measures bar members of the sanctioned group from financial transactions with American persons or entities, and may impede their travel to the U.S. Any assets they have in the U.S. are to be frozen.
The State Department also called out the Israeli government, noting it was Israel’s “responsibility to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian convoys transiting Israel and the West Bank.”
Friday’s action comes in part in response to an urgent plea from Jordan, which has been supplying most of the targeted aid trucks.
Jordan has been able to dispatch up to 40 trucks a day to Gaza — a tiny fraction of what aid workers say is the bare necessity.
Politics
Trump targets House Freedom Caucus chair in intra-party Republican primary feud
As he fights for his political life, House Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Bob Good of Virginia is facing off against a primary challenger supported by the most powerful politician in the Republican Party – former President Trump.
And the contentious intra-party battle in Virginia’s reliably red 5th Congressional District, in the southern part of the Commonwealth, is pitting conservatives versus conservatives and Trump against some of his biggest allies in the House of Representatives.
It’s one of the high-profile races on Tuesday as Virginia and Oklahoma hold primary elections.
And if Good loses, he’ll become the first House incumbent from either major party to be defeated by a primary challenger so far this election year.
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Good incurred Trump’s wrath for being one of just a handful of House Republicans to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential primaries.
Even though the two-term congressman avoided criticizing Turmp and quickly endorsed the former president after DeSantis ended his White House bid in January, Trump wrote on this Truth Social platform that “the damage had been done!”
Trump last month endorsed John McGuire, a Virginia state senator and former Navy SEAL, who is challenging Good for the GOP nomination.
McGuire also has the backing of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a conservative firebrand and major Trump ally who is a vocal critic of Good who last year broke with the House Freedom Caucus, which is considered the most far-right group of lawmakers in the chamber.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is also targeting Good, who was one of eight Republicans last autumn who joined with Democrats to vote to oust McCarthy from his leadership position.
But Good has the support of Reps. Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds of Florida, two conservatives who are also strong backers of Trump.
And fellow House Freedom Caucus members, Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Andy Biggs of Arizona, joined Good in Virginia for a rally on Friday.
Even though he’s being targeted by Trump, Good is spotlighting his support for the former president as he runs for re-election.
“Happy Birthday to the best and next president of the United States, President Trump!” Good wrote on social media on Friday, on the former president’s 78th birthday.
Good also showed up earlier this spring at Trump’s criminal trial in New York City, to show his support for the former president.
In Virginia’s Republican Senate primary, Trump is supporting Navy veteran Hung Cao.
Cao faces Scott Parkinson, who has endorsements from Good and other GOP members of Congress. Three other candidates are also vying for the Republican nomination, with the winner challenging Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine in November.
In Oklahoma, the race to watch is in the red-state’s 4th Congressional District, where 10-term Republican Rep. Tom Cole is facing a primary challenge from wealthy businessman Paul Bondar.
Cole, the chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has spent over $3 million as he fights for re-nomination. But Bondar, a first time candidate who made his money in the insurance industry, has shelled out nearly $5 million to try and unseat Cole, who has Trump’s backing.
There are three other candidates on the primary ballot, and if no one tops 50%, there will be a runoff with the two leading contenders in August.
Fox News’ Matt Reidy contributed to this report
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Politics
Who's who at Biden's star-studded Los Angeles fundraiser
A galaxy of political and entertainment stars (of various wattage) arrived Saturday night at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater for a gala fundraiser for President Biden’s reelection campaign.
Here’s a rundown of some of those who attended the event, which is expected to raise at least $28 million:
First Lady Jill Biden
Former President Obama
Julia Roberts
George Clooney
Barbra Streisand
Paul Anka
Kathy Griffin
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Bryan Lourd
Richard Lovett
Jimmy Kimmel
Jack Black
Kathryn Hahn
Jason Bateman
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Gov. Gavin Newsom
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles)
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk)
Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.)
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village)
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Indio)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside)
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Pacoima)
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego)
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach)
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance)
Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro)
L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León
L.A. Councilmember Curren Price
Thousands of Biden supporters paid between $250, for a seat far from the stage, and $500,000 — for a ticket package that includes prime seats, photos with both presidents and a VIP after-party.
Politics
Secret Service agent robbed at gunpoint during President Biden's trip to Southern California
A Secret Service agent was robbed at gunpoint in California over the weekend, according to local law enforcement. It happened at the same time President Biden was in California for a star-studded Los Angeles fundraiser.
On Saturday, June 15, just after 9:30 p.m., the Tustin Police Department said officers responded to a call about a possible robbery that happened at the Tustin Fields 1 residential community.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim was a member of the Secret Service and that his bag was stolen at gunpoint.
During the incident, police said an agent-involved shooting happened.
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The suspect(s) were not found, and it is unknown at this time whether the suspect(s) was injured as a result of the incident, police said.
Officers found some of the victim’s belongings in the area and the incident is being investigated.
Police are looking for a 2004-2006 silver Infiniti FX35 or similar vehicle that was seen leaving the scene.
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Authorities said there is no known threat to the public.
The Tustin Police Department is looking for assistance from the public in identifying the subject(s) involved in the crime and are urging anyone with information to call 714-573-3372.
President Biden was in Los Angeles for a campaign fundraiser on Saturday night.
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George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand were among those in attendance at the star-studded event, which reportedly raised more than $30 million.
Tickets for Saturday’s gala at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, which an invitation described as a “historic night,” ranged from $250 for a single person to get in the door to half a million dollars for special access, photos with Biden and former President Obama and invitations to an after-party.
The fundraiser comes less than three months after CBS’ Stephen Colbert participated in a lavish record-setting fundraiser that brought in $26 million for the Biden campaign.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Kristine Parks contributed to this report.
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