Israel-Palestine

Bill Maher entró en terreno caliente el viernes por la noche, al criticar a los manifestantes universitarios anti-israelíes como narcisistas egocéntricos, mal informados y en su mayoría sin trabajo.

El presentador de "Real Time" arremetió contra los manifestantes que están bloqueando carreteras y puentes, así como contra quienes interrumpen los campus universitarios, diciendo que su falta de conocimiento sobre el conflicto entre Israel y Hamás es impresionante.

Dice que los manifestantes que piensan que Israel es un país de apartheid están locos y ofrece pruebas, como que los países manifestantes ignoran la subyugación a las mujeres y las minorías y llevar a la muerte a la comunidad LGBTQ.

Rick Caruso's calling USC's decision to nix its graduation ceremony amid a flood of pro-Palestine protests a masterclass in leadership -- something other universities are still scrambling to learn ... so he says.

On "TMZ Live" Friday, Rick -- a member of USC's Board of Trustees -- affirmed students' right to free speech ... but emphasized when expression veers into hate speech and bullying, university administrations must prioritize campus safety above all else.

RC doesn't beat around the bush ... telling us leaders need to show backbone and courage to make tough decisions, even if it means they won't be popular with everyone.

Professor and activist Marc Lamont Hill is weighing in on the pro-Palestine protests on the Columbia campus, saying recent antisemitic acts are the work of a few bad apples, and not the majority of students.

We got the former CNN commentator and current CUNY professor Tuesday on "TMZ Live," where he shared his observations from the demonstrations ... which have led to hundreds of student arrests, but also countless others feeling unsafe.

According to Marc -- who's a former Columbia professor -- most of the protests he's observed have been peaceful, with students simply speaking out against Israel's actions in its war with Hamas.

The anti-Israel protestor who clashed with Alec Baldwin hasn't filed a police report, but there still may be some legal action on the horizon over the phone smack ... TMZ has learned.

We found the woman who confronted Alec in a coffee shop in NYC over the Palestine-Israel conflict -- and as it turns out ... it's performance artist Crackhead Barney (yes, that's her real stage name). We asked her if she'd gone to cops yet ... and her rep tells us no, not yet.

No word on whether she plans to file a report over this, but the fact she hasn't gone yet would suggest she's not planning on turning this into a criminal matter -- however, her rep does tell us she's currently consulting with lawyers to figure out her next steps.

Alec Baldwin got into a dust-up with an anti-Israel protester in NYC ... smacking away her cell phone after he was provoked by her.

The actor was talking on his mobile phone inside a Manhattan coffee shop when a pro-Palestine agitator started video recording him with her own phone while clearly trying to get his goat.

Check out the footage posted to X Monday night ... the woman starts needling Alec about his upcoming trial for involuntary manslaughter after he was charged in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the "Rust" film set.

Mohamed Hadid's apologizing for racist and homophobic direct messages he sent to Congressman Ritchie Torres ... while still criticizing Torres for supporting Israel.

The real estate developer -- and father to Gigi and Bella Hadid -- posted to Instagram to address DMs he sent to the congressman ... revealed by the New York Post Saturday.

Among the unsavory insults ... Mohamed said Ritchie was dumber than New York sewer rats, said he should dress in a KKK hood to cover his face and he might be qualified to be a bouncer at a gay bar.

Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted many Chicago travelers' plans by blocking the entrance to the O'Hare International Airport ... forcing several people to hoof it by foot to the terminal.

Check it out ... protesters blocked the I-190 access road to the Chicago-area airport -- this as a group sat with their arms interlocked across the highway. Others stood and chanted "Free Palestine" ... and there were even drummers out there as the protest raged on.

Police were on the scene to contain the protest ... but the demonstration still caused gridlock traffic to form outside of O'Hare.

Iran has launched an attack on Israel, the White House says in a statement ... and, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country's prepared.

In a statement from the National Security Council spokesperson, the White House explains Iran's begun an airborne assault on Israel and President Biden's receiving regular updates.

The statement says the attack's expected to play out over several hours, and it reaffirms the Biden administration's support for Israel's security.

The vast majority of FCC complaints made during and after Super Bowl LVIII had to do with a pro-Israel ad that ran ... and it appears to have been planned that way.

TMZ has obtained FCC filings -- including all of the complaints made pertaining to the Super Bowl in February -- and there's a recurring theme in just about all of them ... namely, people pissed the State of Israel was allowed to air a commercial in the broadcast.

Per the docs, hundreds complaints were filed ... and a handful of them were about the usual -- indecent exposure, risqué outfits, language, etc. And a fair amount even complained about showing celebs ... including Taylor Swift, Ice Spice, Usher and others who were in the house.

Five aid workers from Chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen were killed in Gaza during an alleged Israeli airstrike Monday ... this according to multiple reports.

The celebrity chef's humanitarian staffers -- who worked for his nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, which is stationed in Gaza rendering food and aid to Palestinians -- died after their vehicle was struck in the war-torn region.

World Central Kitchen did not identify the workers who were lost in the airstrike, but did claim the staffers died "while working to support our humanitarian food delivery efforts in Gaza." WCK also alleged their workers were taken out during an Israeli Defense Forces attack.

Ramy Youssef se puso político en su monólogo de apertura en "Saturday Night Live", pidiéndole a Dios que libere a Palestina, así como a los rehenes israelíes.

El cómico abordó el conflicto el sábado, contando una anécdota con dos amigos suyos que le pidieron que incluyera sus luchas en sus oraciones.

Un amigo le pidió a Dios que le ayudara a recuperar la custodia de su perro de manos de su ex novia, mientras que otro le pidió que rezara por su familia en Gaza.

Ramy Youssef got political for his opening monologue on "Saturday Night Live" ... asking God to free Palestine, as well as the Israeli hostages.

The comedian touched on the conflict Saturday, recounting an anecdote involving 2 of his friends ... who asked him to work their struggles into his prayers.

One pal asked him to ask God to help him win back custody of his dog from his ex-girlfriend -- whereas another asked Ramy to pray for his family in Gaza.

La recaudación de fondos del presidente Joe Biden en Nueva York junto a los ex presidentes Barack Obama y Bill Clinton fue interrumpida por manifestantes pro-Palestina, quienes hicieron una gran escena en un lugar emblemático.

Joe y compañía estaban en el escenario del Radio City Music Hall el jueves por la noche, con Stephen Colbert como anfitrión, quien les hizo preguntas frente a una audiencia en vivo. Todo, cuyos asientos iban desde un centavo hasta $225 y $500k, en el marco de una recaudación de fondos para la campaña presidencial.

Mientras estaban hablando sobre lo ocurrido el 6 de enero, una mujer que se las había ingeniado para entrar en el edificio de alguna manera comenzó a gritar en voz alta.
Hay que tener presente que ya había un montón de manifestantes afuera.

President Joe Biden's fundraiser in NYC alongside ex-Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton got interrupted by pro-Palestine protesters ... who made a big scene in an iconic venue.

Joe and co. were onstage Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall, where Stephen Colbert was hosting them and asking them questions -- this in front of a live audience, with seats for this fundraiser going for a pretty penny ... starting as low as $225 and going as high as $500k.

While they were talking about Jan. 6, a woman who'd made her way into the building somehow -- mind you, lots of protesters were already outside -- started screaming out loud.

New York Jets star Sauce Gardner is addressing the backlash after stating Jewish people "run the world" ... claiming he had no idea his words would be considered antisemitic -- but has since educated himself on the matter.

The two-time All-Pro came under fire after appearing in a video with popular streamer Adin Ross -- who is Jewish -- this week ... when he stated, "I'mma be honest, like no funny, weird s***, y'all run the world."

The comment was met with laughter from those in the room ... and while Ross didn't appear offended, many took to social media to sound off on Gardner.

The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is now clarifying his controversial take ... going to X to try to explain his side of things.

"I love all people," Gardner said. "While my intentions were positive, I just learned that people use those exact words I shared for hate towards Jewish people."

"That is not what I am about and I appreciate those who took the time to educate me on that fact."

Gardner also noted the majority of his agency and marketing teams consist of Jewish people and he talks to them on the daily ... and he meant it as a compliment.

Some folks had Gardner's back ... saying they understood he didn't mean any harm.