The White House rules out Hamas using American hostages as a means of pressure

Three college students of Palestinian origin who were hiking in the US state of Vermont were seriously injured over the weekend when a man shot them at close range on a street, an attack that is being investigated as a possible “crime” hate”. authorities said yesterday (Monday), according to the Associated Press.

Jason J. Eaton, 48, made his first court appearance via video from prison on 3 counts of attempted murder, and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf yesterday. The decision was made to place him in custody without bail.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the U.S. Department of Justice, along with authorities in the state of Vermont, are investigating whether Saturday’s shooting was a “hate crime,” amid growing threats against Jewish communities and Arabs in the United States since the beginning of the war between Israel. and “the United States.” unrest.” “There is understandable fear in communities across the country,” he said.

Police said the three men, all in their 20s, were spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Burlington and were out for a walk while visiting a relative of the victims when they were confronted by a white man carrying a gun.

Burlington Police Chief John Murad told reporters, “They said the person didn’t make any comments to them, and only approached them as they were walking down the street, minding their own business.”

Murad said two of the youths were injured in the chest, while the third was injured in the lower limbs. A relative of the victims confirmed that the three are being treated at the University of Vermont Medical Center and that one of them will face an extended period of treatment for a spinal injury.

“I’ve been with them almost non-stop since Saturday night,” said Rich Price, a relative of one of the students. “I listened to them talk to each other and try to process events, and I was amazed by their resilience and sense of humor in the face of these difficult times.”

The Middle East Institute for Understanding, in a statement released by the victims’ families on the website X (formerly Twitter), identified the men as Hisham Awartani, Kenan Abdel Hamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmed.

“We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of our children – reads the statement – We call on law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, treating this matter as a hate crime.” “We will not rest until the killer is brought to justice.”

Rania Maayah, a school principal in the West Bank, said the three shooting victims had been friends since first grade and were all “wonderful, distinguished students.”

Price explained that the gunman “shot them without saying a word” and that the family suspected they were the target of a “hate crime.”

He continued: “We fear that the motive behind all this is hatred and that these young people are being targeted because they are Arab.”

For his part, Murad indicated that the victims spoke a mix of English and Arabic, and two of them were wearing the black and white Palestinian keffiyeh when they were shot.

Speaking at a news conference, prosecutor Sarah George said law enforcement does not yet have evidence to support a hate crime charge, which under Vermont law must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But she said: “I want to make it clear that there is no doubt that this was an abominable act.”

In turn, US President Joe Biden commented that he and his wife were terrified by the shooting and that they were praying for the students to make a full recovery.

He added: “While we await further facts, we know this: ‘There is absolutely no place for violence or hatred in America… No one should have to worry about being shot in the course of their daily lives. ‘”