What's Happening

International

Massive Protests Continue As Netanyahu Rejects Calls For Cease-fire 

What's going on: Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Israel to demand that the government secure an immediate cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. The protests came after six hostages — including an Israeli American — were found dead in an underground tunnel in Rafah. The hostages were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces reached them, according to an IDF spokesperson. Israeli officials said three of the hostages were expected to be released as part of a future cease-fire agreement. Protest and strike organizers said they’re appalled at the Israeli government’s failure to secure such a deal sooner. Protesters are specifically blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of not doing enough to bring the hostages home — an opinion shared by President Biden. The protests sparked strikes across the country, with government employees, school support staff, and workers at the country’s largest universities joining the walkouts.

What it means: The national demonstrations put even more pressure on Netanyahu’s government to agree to a truce. In a press conference yesterday, Netanyahu reiterated he refuses to agree to a cease-fire that requires Israel to withdraw from Gaza, but asked the families of hostages for forgiveness. Some international experts describe this moment as a “major turning point” for the nation, though it remains unclear if it will lead to a cease-fire. He has blamed Hamas for standing in the way of a cease-fire, while Hamas points the finger at Israel. Meanwhile, international pressure is growing as the UK announced it would suspend some weapons exports to Israel. In short, the coming weeks could be unpredictable as the war nears its one-year mark.

Related: The UN Says Polio Vaccination Success Depends On a Pause in Fighting in Gaza (NPR)

International

The Definition Of Sexual Assault Matters 

What's going on: In a horrifying story out of France, a man named Dominique Pelicot is on trial and accused of using sleeping pills to drug his wife of 50 years in order to rape her, and facilitate and film her rape by at least 51 other men. The abuse went on for nearly a decade, without the woman's knowledge. This disturbing case is igniting scrutiny over how France handles and defines sexual assault. Under the country’s laws, rape is officially defined as an “act of sexual penetration” committed through “violence, coercion, threat, or surprise.” But some legal experts say the wording should specifically and explicitly name that without consent, sex is rape, and that consent can be withdrawn at any time. They also advocate for laws to clarify that consent isn’t possible if a sexual assault occurs when someone is in a state “impairing” their judgment. 

What it means: France isn’t the only country with “loopholes” in its sexual assault laws. Earlier this year, New York lawmakers attempted to pass a bill that would prohibit those on trial for rape from using a survivor’s voluntary intoxication as part of their legal defense, but it has been held up in the state assembly. Legislators in Ohio also tossed a legal exemption that protected some spouses from being charged with sexual assault offenses just months ago. Marital rape wasn’t deemed a crime in all 50 states until 1993. Even post-#MeToo, numerous issues remain in the language of sexual assault laws. Some hope that this trial in France will draw attention to the use of drugs to facilitate abuse and highlight problems around legal language — we’ll see if the verdict has outcomes that reverberate internationally. 

Related: This Woman Was Sentenced To 11 Years in Prison for Killing Her Alleged Sex Trafficker (The Guardian)

Business

Hotel Workers Want Chains To Offer Better Pay and Benefits

What's going on: More than 10,000 hotel workers across 25 states took to the picket line this past holiday weekend to protest unfair working conditions and demand better pay. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many hotels operate. They’ve cut staff and daily room cleanings, and have kept those changes in place to keep costs low. However, workers say these changes are increasing their workloads without fair compensation. As a result, contract negotiations between the union representing the workers and major chains like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott have stalled.

What it means: This is one of many recent strikes as everyday workers demand better pay and benefits to keep up with the rising cost of living and inflation. Some of those movements, like the strikes at major auto companies, have seen success. The union president said they “won’t accept a ‘new normal’ where hotel companies profit by cutting their offerings to guests and abandoning their commitments to workers.” Hilton said it is “committed to negotiating in good faith.” Axios reports more hotel staff could join the protests in the coming days. Meanwhile, Hyatt and Hilton said they will continue to operate as normal and have contingency plans in place if the strikes continue. Marriott did not comment.

Related: Were Summer Travel Prices Too Hot For You? Prices Might Be Dropping in the Fall (NYT Gift Link)