Ongoing Palestinian protests escalated into violence along the Gaza border this week, sparking international outrage and confusion amidst this historically complex situation. The protests are part of what the demonstrators have dubbed “The Great March of Return,” scheduled months ago to coincide with Nakba Day, an annual occasion of protest marking the displacement that preceded and followed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. On Monday, sixty-two Palestinians were killed in clashes there with Israeli forces; Hamas officials claim that 50 of the deceased were Hamas agents. The Israel Defense Forces continues to defend Israel's borders as Hamas calls for new demonstrations. Meanwhile an effort is under way in the US Congress to establish an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, which would support people-to-people peace initiatives. For news updates, articles, and analysis from Jewish Federations of North America, click here.