Hundreds gathered in Downtown El Paso for a pro-Palestine rally, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation, immediate ceasefire, and humanitarian aid for Gaza. While some expressed support for Palestine, others, like Rod Linkous, stood with Israel, criticizing the rally for being one-sided. Supporters of Palestine argued that the Palestinian people are being wiped out, blaming the U.S. for funding what they consider a genocide, while Linkous argued that Israel is not attempting genocide and pointed out the prosperous Muslim population in the country. Tensions continue to rise as both sides claim moral superiority.
The Israeli-Hamas war is accompanied by a surge of misinformation, spreading rapidly through social media platforms. False claims, such as Ukraine selling weapons to Hamas or Israel killing thousands of Palestinian children, have garnered millions of engagements and views. Despite efforts like Elon Musk's fact-checking feature on Twitter, only a small percentage of misinformation posts were flagged. To combat this, educators and institutions need to curate trusted sources and provide media literacy education to help students navigate the overwhelming amount of false information.
The ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in the Middle East has raised concerns among traders that it could impact the crypto markets, potentially leading to a short-term decline in riskier assets like bitcoin. The conflict has already caused a slump in crypto markets, with traders factoring in rising oil prices and a drop in traditional equities. However, crypto markets have shown early signs of resilience, which may instill confidence among investors. The impact of geopolitical struggles on the crypto market was previously demonstrated during tensions between Russia and Ukraine in early 2022. Traders suggest keeping an eye on oil and energy market changes to gauge the direction of bitcoin.
