Israeli troops: Israel says it has pulled its troops out from the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza after a two-week assault. Israel says Hamas leaders and militants were killed and Hamas operations headquarters destroyed. A hospital official said that 21 patients were killed during the Israeli military action. Much of the hospital complex was destroyed during the fighting. Hamas claimed more than 300 were civilians were killed at the hospital.
Protest: Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Jerusalem on Easter Sunday to demand the ousting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used water cannons to try to control the crowd. The demonstrators said Netanyahu has not done enough to free the hostages still held by Hamas. Negotiations seeking a cease-fire and hostage release resumed in Cairo today after being suspended last week.
Havana Syndrome: The CBS News program “60 Minutes” last night reported that Russia is responsible for attacks on U.S. diplomatic personnel that have resulted in Havana Syndrome. Victims report being disabled by a loud noise, getting headaches, losing balance and suffering other problems. It’s believed that a microwave or ultrasound weapon is used to damage hearing and inner ear balance and create brain and neurological damage. More than 100 government employees have been attacked since 2014. The Pentagon has tried to explain Havana Syndrome as being an ordinary health issue. “60 Minutes” said evidence points to a secret Russian operation using a high-energy weapon.
Easter messages: President and Mrs. Biden issued an Easter message expressing their wish for world peace and for people to be kind and respectful toward each other. They attended Easter church services. Donald Trump did not attend church services and spent Easter sending out 77 internet posts that repeated his various grievances. Trump talked about people he said he despises and also claimed that America is a failing nation. Among those cited by Trump were Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin who is retiring from Congress, and Judges Juan Merchan and Arthur Engoron who are presiding over two of Trump’s criminal trials.
Bridge collapse: The around-the-clock cleanup effort is underway at the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Workmen using torches began cutting apart the steel structure of the bridge and three massive floating cranes had arrived over the weekend with a fourth on the way. The Coast Guard said that it planned to open two small channels today that would allow small boats to get into and out of the Port of Baltimore. It said that a larger channel should be opened soon that would allow the movement of some commercial ships.
Bad weather: More than 50 million people were under alert for severe weather today from parts of Texas into Virginia. Tornadoes, heavy rain, hail and high winds were forecast for various areas. The bad weather was moving east after the weekend’s heavy rain in Southern California that resulted in parts of the Pacific Coast Highway collapsing. Mountainous areas received up to two feet of snow.
