Globally tense: Protests, drone strikes, and diplomatic threats unfold

Overnight developments from Wednesday to Thursday, as reported by international news agencies

• Protest at Amsterdam University Turns Violent. "Shame on you!" A pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Amsterdam escalated when Dutch police attempted to disperse students protesting against the Gaza war, according to Reuters. Protesters fashioned barricades out of desks, bricks, and wooden pallets. Local television reports showed protesters using fire extinguishers against police officers, who responded by wearing riot gear, striking protesters with batons, and dismantling barricades. As the confrontation intensified, hundreds chanted, "Shame on you!" ABC News highlights that there was no immediate information on the number of injuries or arrests.

• Drone Strikes Ignite Fires in Belgorod, Russia. Attack warnings and sirens echoed in the Belgorod region as debris from intercepted drones caused fires. One notable attack targeted an oil refinery in the Yurovka village, Krasnodar Territory, amid Victory Day celebrations in Russia. Based on resident accounts and reported by Baza, seven drones struck Yurovka around 2 a.m. Moscow time. While authorities claimed all drones were neutralized, images circulated online show a refinery ablaze.

• Biden Threatens to Cut Weapon Supplies to Israel Over Potential Rafah Invasion. In a pivotal statement, President Joe Biden declared, for the first time, his intention to suspend specific U.S. arms sales to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with a significant invasion of Rafah, as reported by CNN. Biden referenced recent civilian casualties in Gaza from bombings, emphasizing, "I made it clear that if they go into Rafah ... I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities," marking a significant shift in the U.S. stance during the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.

• Collision Involves Russian Soldiers En Route to the Front. A tragic accident occurred when a bus transporting 32 Russian contract soldiers crashed head-on with the Volga, killing the 69-year-old driver instantly. The collision, which took place in the Voronezh region of Russia, resulted in the bus overturning and landing in a ditch. Nine soldiers sustained severe injuries and were hospitalized, while the remaining soldiers were sent to the front in another bus. The incident occurred as the soldiers travelled from Ufa, Bashkortostan, nearing the Ukraine border.

Source: Reuters Agency, ABC News, PAP, WP News