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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
Israel’s military said yesterday it has taken “tactical control” of the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land separating Egypt from Gaza, meaning it now controls Gaza’s entire land border. An IDF spokesperson claimed about 20 tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza were found within the zone, which Egyptian TV quoted sources as denying. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly that controlling the corridor is critical for postwar Israeli security. Kathryn Armstrong reports for BBC News; Adela Sulliman, Heba Farouk Mahfouz, John Hudson, and Susannah George report for the Washington Post.
Israel’s national security adviser said yesterday he expects the war in Gaza to continue at least until the end of the year. “We expect another seven months of combat in order to shore up our achievement and realize what we define as the destruction of Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s military and governing capabilities,” Tzachi Hanegbi said. Aaron Boxerman, Gabby Sobelman, Erika Solomon, and Thomas Fuller report for the New York Times.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank city of Nablus, the Israeli military said today. The assailant fled the scene after the attack yesterday, and a search was underway. The New York Times reports.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it had retrieved the bodies of two paramedics killed in Rafah amid Israel’s bombardment. The Israeli military said one of its tanks fired on a “suspicious vehicle” that approached its troops in Rafah yesterday. Abeer Salman reports for CNN.
Aid entering Gaza has dropped by 67% since May 7, the day after Israel began its Rafah offensive, according to a report released yesterday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
At least 66 people have been killed in designated safe zones across Gaza over the past four days, Save the Children said in a statement yesterday.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration was aware of Israel’s plans to take control of the Philadelphi Corridor, according to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby. “I can tell you that their movements along the corridor did not come as a surprise to us and were in keeping with what we understood their plan to be,” Kirby said. Dov Lieber reports for the Wall Street Journal.
Former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is facing criticism for writing “Finish Them!” on artillery shells in Israel during a trip to the country this week. Jonathan Edwards reports for the Washington Post.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Chinese President Xi Jinping today called for a peace conference and “justice” over the war in Gaza as Arab leaders visit Beijing this week. “War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever,” Xi said at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, reiterating China’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and pledging further aid to Gaza. Simone McCarthy reports for CNN.
French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday said he is ready to recognize a Palestinian state, but only if the Palestinian Authority (PA) reforms. Macron spoke yesterday with PA President Mahmoud Abbas on a call and offered the “prospect of recognition” if the PA “implements necessary reforms,” according to the Elysée Palace. Joseph Ataman and Julen Chavin report for CNN.
Brazil yesterday withdrew its ambassador to Israel. Israel’s foreign ministry said no official message had been received from the Brazilian government on the matter. However, following the media reports, Brazil’s chargé d’affaires was summoned to appear at the ministry today. Elénore Hughes reports for ABC News.
IRAN-BACKED MILITANTS
Israel launched air attacks on Syria’s central region and Baniyas city, killing a child and injuring ten civilians, Syrian state media said yesterday, citing a military source. The source said the attack was launched “from the direction of Lebanese territory.” State media reported that Syria’s air defense had intercepted “hostile targets.” Reuters reports.
MILITARY CONFLICT WITH THE HOUTHIS
Yemen’s Houthis launched attacks on six ships in three different seas, the Iran-backed group said yesterday. Separately, the Houthis said they downed a U.S. drone in Yemen’s province of Maareb. Nayera Abdallah, Clauda Tanios and Jonathan Saul report for Reuters.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
China could arrange a Russia-Ukraine peace conference, the Russian state news agency RIA cited Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov as saying today. Reuters reports.
The United States is concerned that recent Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian nuclear radar stations could destabilize Moscow, a U.S. official said. It comes as the Biden administration is weighing whether to lift restrictions on Ukraine using U.S.-supplied weapons in cross-border attacks. Ellen Nakashima and Isabelle Khurshudyan report for the Washington Post.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
A Hong Kong court has found 14 democracy activists guilty of subversion and acquitted two in a landmark case under the Beijing-imposed national security law. Thirty-one others had pleaded guilty earlier and will be sentenced at a later date. All 47 were charged in 2021 for trying to “overthrow” the government by organizing an unofficial election. BBC News reports; Christian Shepherd, Shibani Mahtani, and Vic Chiang report for the Washington Post.
The United States will boycott a U.N. tribute today to Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi, a U.S. official said. The U.N. General Assembly traditionally convenes to commemorate any world leader who was a sitting head of state at the time of their death. “The United Nations should be standing with the people of Iran, not memorializing their decades-long oppressor,” the official said. Michelle Nichols reports for Reuters.
Iran today opened a five-day registration period for candidates seeking to contest in the June 28 presidential election to replace Raisi. All candidates must be approved by Iran’s 12-member Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists ultimately overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Jon Gambrell reports for AP News.
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito yesterday denied a request from Democratic lawmakers for him to recuse himself from cases involving former President Trump and Jan. 6 defendants due to the controversy over flags flown at his homes. Jacob Knutson reports for Axios.
The House Ethics Committee said yesterday it will launch an investigation into Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who was recently indicted in a federal bribery case. Rebecca Kaplan and Zoë Richards report for NBC News.
TRUMP-LEGAL MATTERS
Jury deliberation is underway for a second day today in Trump’s criminal hush money trial, with his fate now resting in the hands of 12 ordinary citizens. Outside the courtroom, Trump again slammed the case as a politicized trial. “Mother Teresa could not beat these charges … These charges are rigged,” Trump said. Katherine Doyle reports for NBC News; Corinne Ramey, James Fanellie, and Erin Mulvaney report for the Wall Street Journal.