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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
South Africa yesterday asked the International Court of Justice to order Israel to halt all military operations in Gaza, arguing its assault on Rafah and the closure of key border crossings are aimed at destroying “the essential foundations of Palestinian life” there. South Africa’s legal team asked the court to issue urgent “provisional measures” to stem the violence, including ordering a ceasefire. Israel is arguing against the request today. Erin Cunningham and Emily Rauhala report for the Washington Post; Molly Quell reports for AP News.
Israel said yesterday it would send more troops to Rafah. The announcement signals Israel plans to press deeper into Rafah, despite international concerns about the threat posed to civilians there. “Hundreds of targets have already been attacked,” Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said after meeting with commanders in Rafah, adding, “This operation will continue.” Raja Abdulrahim, Adam Rasgon, Bilal Shbair, and Thomas Fuller report for the New York Times.
Israeli settlers attacked and burned a truck in the occupied West Bank overnight, injuring the driver, the Israeli military said. Troops who arrived to separate the settlers from the Israeli driver were attacked, and three soldiers were injured, the military added. The incident comes days after protestors ransacked aid trucks bound for Gaza. Reuters reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The U.S. military said yesterday it completed construction of the temporary floating pier in Gaza that will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. Jacob Knutson reports for Axios; Dan Lamothe, Alex Horton, and Karen DeYoung reports for Washington Post.
The House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill that would force President Biden to send weapons to Israel, seeking to rebuke him for delaying arms shipment. The Israel Security Assistance Support Act was approved 224 to 187. The act is not expected to become law, but its passage underscores the deep divide over U.S. policy toward Israel. Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — REGIONAL RESPONSE
The Arab League yesterday called for a U.N. peacekeeping force to be deployed to Gaza and the occupied West Bank until a two-state solution can be negotiated. In a statement, the League also called for the U.N. Security Council to set a time limit to carry out that political process. It appeared to be the first time the group had officially made such a request in a written document. Anushka Patil and Farnaz Fassihi report for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Spain has refused permission for a ship carrying arms to Israel to dock at a Spanish port, Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares said yesterday. Agence France-Presse reports via The Guardian.
IRAN-BACKED MILITANTS
Israeli airstrikes hit an area of southern Lebanon far from the border today, Lebanese official media said. A source close to Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah reported that three people have died, including two Syrian nationals. Agence France-Presse reports.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
NATO is considering sending trainers into Ukraine. As Ukraine’s manpower shortage has reached a critical point in recent weeks, Ukrainian officials have asked their U.S. and NATO counterparts to help train 150,000 new recruits closer to the front line. Washington has so far said no, but the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of NATO Staff said yesterday that a deployment of NATO trainers seemed inevitable, adding, “We’ll get there eventually, over time.” Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt and Lara Jakes report for the New York Times.
A massive Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea early today caused power outages in the city of Sevastopol and set a refinery on fire in southern Russia, Russian authorities said. The attack marked Kyiv’s attempt to strike back during Moscow’s offensive in northeastern Ukraine.Ukraine has not commented on the attack or claimed responsibility for it at the time of writing. AP News reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
A man has been charged with the attempted murder of Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico. The alleged assailant has not been formally named, but Slovak reports have widely identified him as a 71-year-old from the town of Levice. Reports say he could face up to life in prison. Fico remains in a serious but stable condition. Emily Atkinson reports for BBC News.
French police killed an armed man after a synagogue was set on fire in the city of Rouen. Police were called after smoke was seen rising from the synagogue. The man was reportedly armed with a knife and an iron bar, and when he approached the police, an officer shot him. The local public prosecutor said two investigations were underway. Paul Kirby reports for BBC News; AP News reports.
The Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday announced it was expelling Britain’s defense attaché. The ministry said further, unspecified steps would be forthcoming due to the “unfriendly” measures taken by London. It follows Britain announcing on May 8 that it ordered the Russian defense attaché to leave, describing him as an “undeclared” military intelligence officer. Neil MacFarquhar reports for the New York Times.
Russia launched a research spacecraft for an anti-satellite nuclear weapon two years ago, just weeks before it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials said. The satellite that was launched doesn’t carry a nuclear weapon, but U.S. officials say it is linked to an ongoing Russian nuclear anti-satellite program. Warren P. Strobel, Dustin Volz, Michael R. Gordon, and Micah Maidenberg report for the Wall Street Journal.
More French police arrived in New Caledonia amid ongoing riots. The number of police and gendarmes will rise to 2,700 from 1,700 by this evening. Hundreds of people have been injured, and five people have died so far. BBC News reports; Kirsty Needham and Camille Raynaud report for Reuters.
Over 300 U.S. companies unknowingly hired foreign nationals with ties to North Korea, sending $6.8 million of revenue overseas in a fraud scheme that helped Pyongyang fund its nuclear weapons program, the Justice Department said yesterday. Mariah Timms and Dustin Volz report for the Wall Street Journal.
Chad’s constitutional council yesterday confirmed that President Mahamat Deby Itno, who seized power in 2021, was elected president in the May 6 vote. The council rejected an appeal by Itno’s main opponent, and head of the transitional government, Prime Minister Succès Masra. Edouard Takadji reports for AP News.
DOMESTIC U.S. DEVELOPMENTS
President Biden asserted executive privilege over the recordings of his two-day interview with the special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents. The Justice Department has released transcripts but not the audio of Biden’s interview, and the House Judiciary and Oversight committees say they need the audio as part of their investigation into Biden’s family business dealings. The two committees yesterday voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to provide the tapes, and the matter will now proceed to the full House. Sadie Gurman reports for the Wall Street Journal.
The Biden administration yesterday launched a new, expedited asylum system for people who have recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and are headed to one of five major U.S. cities. Single adults who illegally cross the border and who are headed to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles could be placed in this fast-tracked docket. Stef W. Knight reports for Axios; Priscilla Alvarez reports for CNN.
A U.S. Army sergeant has pleaded guilty to theft charges after his arrest in Russia, according to state media. Gordon Black was arrested this month and accused of stealing personal property after traveling to Vladivostok from South Korea. He is being held at a pre-trial detention facility and will remain in custody until at least July 2. Brandon Drenon reports for BBC News.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pardoned a man convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020. Former U.S. Army sergeant Daniel Parry argued he acted in self-defense, but he was convicted in April last year for the killing of Garrett Foster and landed a 25-year sentence. Announcing the pardon yesterday, Abbott said, “Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.” Mike Wendling reports for BBC News; Ivana Saric reports for Axios.
TRUMP-LEGAL MATTERS
Court is not sitting today in Former President Trump’s criminal hush money trial, as Trump has been granted the day off to attend his son’s high school graduation. Yesterday, Michael Cohen gave a third day of witness testimony. Trump’s team attacked Cohen’s credibility as a witness by highlighting his convictions for lying to Congress and other criminal charges. Kayla Epstein, Phil McCausland, and Nada Tawfik report for BBC News.