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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration sent a letter to Israeli leaders on Monday demanding that Israel take steps within 30 days to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza or risk U.S. military aid being affected, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Axios. The letter, whose authenticity was confirmed by U.S. and Israeli officials, comes amid concerns over civilian deaths and dwindling aid access to Gaza’s north. Barak Ravid reports; the Washington Post reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israel’s Supreme Court yesterday ordered the Israeli government to explain why there appears to be no comprehensive system in place to facilitate medical evacuations from Gaza. Ephrat Livni and Johnatan Reiss report for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
President Emmanuel Macron reportedly told a cabinet meeting yesterday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must not forget “his country was created by a U.N. decision,” urging Israel to abide by U.N. decisions. It comes amid rising tensions between the two leaders over Israel’s strikes in Lebanon. Camille Knight reports for France24; Clea Calcutt reports for POLITICO.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR
Israeli forces targeted southern Beirut with fresh strikes today for the first time in days. Israel’s military issued evacuation warnings, and said on X the target was an underground warehouse used by Hezbollah. Mohamad El Chamaa, Rachel Pannett, and Annabelle Timsit report for the Washington Post.
Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh killed five people, including the local mayor. Lebanon’s prime minister accused Israel of “intentionally” targeting a municipal council meeting. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it sent “barrages” of rockets into several areas of northern Israel overnight. BBC News reports; Jessie Yeung reports for CNN.
Lebanon’s hospitals are buckling amid Israel’s offensive, with some forced to close or struggling to operate. The U.N. has warned the “targeting of health and relief operations is broadening.” Euan Ward reports for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH WAR — U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Israel is opposed to a “unilateral ceasefire” in its war with Hezbollah, Netanayhu told Macron, claiming it would only return the security situation in Lebanon “to what it was before.” Lauren Iszo and Alex Stambaugh report for CNN.
The United States said yesterday that it opposed the scope of Israel’s recent airstrikes in Beirut. A State Department spokesperson said Washington had expressed its concerns to Netanyahu. Humeyra Pamuk and Laila Bassam report for Reuters.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Hundreds of U.S. army veterans forced out of service because of their sexual orientation under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” were given honorable discharges following a review, the Defense Department said yesterday. Jonathan Edwards and Kyle Melnick report for the Washington Post.
An Afghan man’s foiled Election Day terrorism plot was directed by ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of the self-styled Islamic State, U.S. officials said. Tom Winter, Ken Dilanian, and Julia Ainsley report for NBC News.
Survivors of last year’s Maine mass shooting yesterday notified the Defense Department that they intend to sue the military for negligence, alleging that the army failed to address the shooter’s declining mental health and threats of violence. Jenna Russel reports for the New York Times.
A Democratic former Las Vegas-area politician is set to be sentenced today for killing an investigative journalist who wrote articles that criticized his conduct. Ken Ritter reports for AP News.
The House Ethics Committee recently issued a subpoena asking for documents from a lawsuit brought by Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) friend as part of its ongoing investigation into allegations against the congressman. Will Steakin reports for ABC News.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The Justice Department will monitor presidential election voting in Portage County, Ohio, officials announced yesterday, after a local county sheriff’s call for residents to write down the addresses displaying signs for Vice President Harris sparked complaints of voter intimidation. Praveena Somasundaram reports for the Washington Post.
A Georgia judge yesterday blocked a requirement for country election workers to hand-count ballots implemented by the Georgia State Election Board, saying the rule was “too much, too late” with early voting already underway. Amy Gardner reports for the Washington Post.
Only one percent of voters called into question under new election laws in Georgia have been placed into challenged status or removed from the rolls, an AP News investigation found. Jeff Amy and Charlotte Kramon report.
Arizona counties will not have to carry out citizenship checks before the election, a judge ruled yesterday, concluding that those who sought the checks made their request too close to the election and didn’t have legal standing. AP News reports.
The Nebraska Supreme Court will today decide if thousands of Nebraska residents with felony records will be able to vote in next month’s elections. Margery A. Beck reports for AP News.
U.S. FOREIGN RELATIONS
Mexico’s former public security chief is set to be sentenced in a U.S. court today following his conviction for taking bribes to aid drug traffickers. Larry Neumeister reports for AP News.
The Transportation Department yesterday issued a record $4 million fine after finding that Lufthansa discriminated against 128 Jewish passengers traveling from New York to Hungary in 2022. Mark Walker reports for the New York Times.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
A Russian father was released from jail yesterday following a year-and-a-half sentence for displaying his daughter’s antiwar drawing. The case was a striking example of the Putin regime’s efforts seeking to suppress any opposition to the war. Robyn Dixon and Natalia Abbakumova report for the Washington Post.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Sudan’s civil war is fueled in part by weapons supplied by foreign countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to confidential assessments, a State Department funded report, and evidence from captured weapons. Katharine Houreld and Hafiz Haroun report for the Washington Post.
The leaders of Kashmir’s largest political party were sworn into office today in the first local election since India stripped the disputed region’s special status and curtailed local government powers. Aijaz Hussain reports for AP News.
Kenya’s Senate is preparing to vote later this week on impeaching the country’s deputy president following a judicial confirmation yesterday that the proceedings are constitutional. Edwin Okoth and Ammu Kannampilly report for Reuters.
Australia will invest billions of dollars to expand a nuclear submarine shipyard in Western Australia set to serve as a AUKUS alliance hub, the country’s defense minister said yesterday. Renju Jose reports for Reuters.
The supporters of Bolivia’s ex-president clashed with police on Monday after a prosecutor said she would order his arrest. It marks rising tensions ahead of the country’s Aug. 2025 presidential election. Vanessa Buschschlüter reports for BBC News.