Mideast Latest, Campus Protests, Spain's Prime Minister

The International Criminal Court is reportedly weighing arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu.

The charges would stem from the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's nearly seven-month response in Gaza.

Ami Martinez That's Laila Fadl, and this is up first from NPR News.

And Spain's prime minister says he's staying in office despite allegations of corruption against his wife. He says It's a smear campaign from the far right. Stay with us, We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Listening to the news can feel like a journey, but the 1A podcast guides you beyond the headlines.

And cuts through the noise.

Listen to 1A, where we celebrate your freedom to listen by getting to the heart of the story together. Only from NPR.

The International Criminal Court is reportedly considering arrest warrants against Hamas leaders and top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

If the court proceeds, it would likely send shockwaves around the region and beyond as Israel's war against Hamas continues. Meantime, negotiators are still working on a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal.

NPR's Peter Kenyon is following developments from Jerusalem and joins me now. Good morning Peter.

Hi Leila.

So what do we know about these possible arrest warrants, who might issue them, and what could ensue?

Well, Israeli and international media are reporting that the ICC, the International Criminal Court in the Hague, could issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defense Minister, Yoav Galant and Army Chief Herzl Halevi. We should stress this hasn't happened yet, and if ICC prosecutor Karim Khan does, issue warrants. Something that's never happened to any Israeli official before, it could happen this week, but that's also not certain. Clearly, though, there's concern inside Israel about the possibility Israeli officials in the U.S.

And if the ICC moves ahead, what would that mean?

Well, for one thing. Under the rules of the ICC, if warrants are issued, each member state would be expected to arrest and hand the defendants over to the Hague if they enter its territory. Warrants were issued against Russian leader Vladimir Putin last year, for instance, regarding his alleged involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian children, raising the possibility of his arrest. Should he travel to certain countries?

Okay, and then, in the meantime, is there any news on the hostages and the possibility of their release? hostages taken from Israel?

Well, this, of course, is a very important and thorny issue. Negotiating teams are meeting today in Cairo for another round of talks. Egypt says it has a proposal ready to be discussed. The general idea is a ceasefire during which hostages could be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Israeli media quoted Hamas as saying. Generally positive things.

What's the latest on the efforts to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza as the risk of famine grows there?

Efforts are continuing. World Central Kitchen is getting back into the game, resuming operations despite the fact that seven of their workers were killed last time. At this time, they will be using Palestinian aid workers, and the U.S is constructing a pier.

And PR's Peter Kenyon in Jerusalem Thank you, Peter.

Thanks, Laila.

Protests against the war in Gaza on college campuses are continuing to spread across the country.

Yeah. Another is expected in New Jersey at Rutgers University, where some students plan to rally this afternoon. Like protests at other campuses, they're demanding the university divest from companies that do business with Israel. Nearly seven months into this war that has destroyed much of Gaza's infrastructure and killed more than 34000 Palestinians, the majority women and children. That's according to the health authorities in Gaza. Israel's war is in response to an attack by Hamas that killed 1200 people, according to the Israeli government. Over the weekend, police arrested nearly 300 college students and activists during protests nationwide.

And PR's Brian Mann was at Columbia University in New York City, and he joins us now. Good morning Brian.

Good morning Laila.

So these demonstrations, really, the beginning was at Columbia, where you were, but they've spread fast. Where are the flashpoints?

Yeah, this is really coast to coast now. Over the weekend. On Friday, we saw police move in to break up an encampment at Arizona State University. Saturday, dozens more students arrested at Washington University in St. Louis, and yesterday, at UCLA's campus in Los Angeles, pro-Palestinian activists scuffled with pro-Israeli demonstrators.

Now you described what's going on coast to coast, and you were inside the encampment at Columbia University yesterday. What was the mood there?

Well, the mood here was really calm, I saw a lot of people singing and praying.

Everybody say freedom to Palestine.

Freedom to Palestine? And that mood, Laila, is a big change from a week and a half ago when campus officials summoned New York City police to break up the encampment. More than a hundred arrests then, and that, of course, helped spark the nationwide protest. As you mentioned, both sides here are clearly working to de-escalate this.

And what about the counter-protesters just outside the campus gates?

Yes, some Jewish activists did gather here, and they told me they believe the students inside are motivated, in part, by anti-semitism. We've been hearing a lot about this accusation. Here's Ron Mizrahi, he's an Israeli-American businessman. He was just outside the campus gates.

It is anti-semitic because what these people are actually calling from is from the river.

To the sea.

The meaning of that phrase is debated, but many Jews believe it calls for the destruction of Israel. Friday evening, the university announced it's banned one of the student protesters from campus. That student faced a school disciplinary hearing for a social media video posted earlier this year. Saying that Zionists and I'm quoting here don't deserve to live. That student now says those remarks don't represent him or this protest movement.

You mentioned that. The university and student protesters both appear to be working to de-escalate. The university has asked the protest leaders to make the encampment. Welcome to all. What did you see?

You know, I saw Leila Saenz welcoming Jewish students, Saenz celebrating. Passover spoke to one Jewish student taking part in the protest, who said she actually felt threatened by pro-Israel demonstrators. And believes this accusation of anti-semitism is being used to divert attention from Israel's military operation in Gaza and this call for divestment. She did not want her name used because of safety concerns.

I find it painful that anti-semitism is being weaponized in order to keep Jewish people afraid and keep Jewish people like feeling alone and so defensive.

And so now, Leila. Talks between students and campus officials are continuing, but no sign of a breakthrough here.

NPR's Brian Mann in New York City Thank you, Brian.

Thank you.

In Spain, people were glued to their smartphones, televisions and radios. This morning, they were waiting for Europe's most prominent socialist leader to announce a decision about his own and his country's future.

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez published a letter where he made a surprise announcement. He was considering stepping down because of an investigation into his wife. He said, was politically motivated. Today, Sanchez said he would stay on.

NPR's Miguel Macias has been following the story from Seville, Hi, Miguel.

Hi Leila.

So what did Sanchez say after so much speculation over the past few days?

LEILA I think it's safe to say that it was a crazy morning for anyone watching. Pedro Sanchez went mute for five days after he published the letter on social media on Wednesday. This morning, he gave a long introduction. It took him more than five minutes to communicate his decision. Let's hear it.

But how did we get here? I mean, there was this investigation into Sanchez's wife that triggered all of this.

Yes, the investigation is basically the straw that broke the camel's back for him. Sanchez said in his letter. I want to say that he and his wife have been targets of a campaign from the far right that amounts to harassment. The lawsuit that prompted the investigation into Sanchez's wife was filed by far right organization based on news clips from media outlets, some of them known for publishing fake news. So it remains to be seen whether the investigation is going to go anywhere now. Sanchez is known to be a survivor to have a very thick skin.

Now you mentioned the corruption allegations come from Sanchez's political opponent. How are they responding?

Well, we can say something for sure the right is going to go into full attack mode. Over the past five days, they've accused Sanchez of being irresponsible. They also didn't trust that he was being genuine. Well, conservatives are going to have a field day now.

That's Miguel Macias in Seville, Spain. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

And that's up first for Monday, April 29th. I'm Laila Faldun.

And I'm E. Martinez. Consider listening to consider this from NPR. Thirty years ago. This month, South Africans elected Nelson Mandela, and the country became an emblem of democracy.

And today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Nyi, Russell Lewis, Nick Spicer, Lisa Thompson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Ben Abrams and Nelly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zach Coleman. Start your day here with us tomorrow.

Climate change fuels hurricanes China promises to stop.

The big lie persists.

Butterflies have hearts.

Singers, die.

Plumbers win, nurses persevere. Your world speaks.

We listen npr. podcasts.

More voices?

All ears find NPR wherever you get your podcasts.

What's happening with NPR Podcasts, Money, Power, Tacos, White Colloquium?

Green Party, Black reparations.

More of the perspectives that make your world a more vibrant place.

Npr. podcasts.

More voices, all ears.

Find NPR wherever you get your podcasts.