Good Morning,
We hope your week is off to a safe and peaceful start.
However, today's newsletter begins with a somber reflection on the tragic events that unfolded in Philadelphia on Memorial Day.
📌 Mass shooting at Philadelphia's Fairmount park: 2 dead, 9 injured
On the evening of Monday, May 26, 2025, a mass shooting occurred in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, resulting in two fatalities, nine injuries, and 200+ attacks.
The incident took place around 10:27 p.m. near Lemon Hill Drive and Poplar Drive, where a large gathering was underway for Memorial Day celebrations.
Details of the incident
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel reported that the deceased victims were an adult man and woman.
Among the injured were three teenagers, aged 15, 16, and 17, along with six other adults. All injured individuals were transported to local hospitals and are currently in stable condition.
Witnesses described hearing rapid gunfire, and investigators are examining whether a firearm equipped with a "switch,” a device that enables semi-automatic weapons to fire automatically, was used.
Police are working to determine the number of shooters involved, but no suspects have been identified or apprehended at this time.
Additionally, no weapons have been recovered from the scene.
The shooting disrupted what had been a day of peaceful gatherings in the park. Authorities are urging anyone with information or footage related to the incident to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
📌 And why is there confusion about the Gaza ceasefire?
On Monday, a senior Palestinian official close to Hamas claimed that the group had accepted a new ceasefire proposal from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The alleged deal included a 70-day ceasefire, the release of 10 Israeli hostages in two phases, and a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In return, Israel would release several Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds serving lengthy sentences.
However, both the U.S. envoy and Israeli officials quickly rejected the claim. Witkoff told Reuters that the proposal Hamas referred to was “completely unacceptable” and not the same as the one he had discussed.
An Israeli official further denied that the plan came from Washington and emphasized that no responsible Israeli government could accept such terms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue via social media, saying he hoped to share developments about Israel's efforts to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages “today, and if not today, then tomorrow.” His office did not issue a follow-up clarification.
This confusion comes amid escalating violence. Israel resumed military operations in Gaza in March, ending a ceasefire agreement initially reached in January. In response, Hamas and allied factions resumed rocket attacks.
Hamas maintains that it is willing to release all remaining hostages captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks, where 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 hostages taken, if Israel agrees to a full withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Netanyahu remains firm, stating that only a temporary ceasefire would be considered in exchange for hostages, and that the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated.
Meanwhile, the toll on Gaza has been catastrophic. Nearly 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, and aid organizations warn of widespread malnutrition and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave.
That’s it for today. If you found this edition interesting and entertaining, please drop a like and follow us for more!
See ya👋
