More than five dozen daily newspapers owned by investment firm Alden Global Capital ran an editorial on Wednesday urging the news media to describe Hamas as a terrorist organization and its Oct. 7 attack on Israel as a terrorist attack.
Why it matters: Some newsrooms that are avoiding the term argue it's become too politicized. Others say the term accurately describes the group and the attack or that avoiding it normalizes Hamas' actions.
Israel's war cabinet on Wednesday approved the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt after pressure from the U.S. and other countries.
The latest: Following Israel's decision, President Biden said later Wednesday that Egyptian President Fattah el-Sisi agreed to allow 20 trucks of humanitarian assistance through the Rafah Crossing into Gaza.
There was one consistent message President Biden heard from nearly all the Israeli officials he met in Tel Aviv: The war in Gaza will take time — and will test Israel's support from its allies, Israeli and U.S. officials say.
Why it matters: After 12 days of war against Hamas — and with thousands dead and the Arab world in an uproar — one of Israel's biggest concerns is maintaining international support — particularly from the United States.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is making phone calls all across the Middle East, the U.S. and elsewhere as Beijing pushes for a ceasefire and warns Israel against "collective punishment."
Why it matters: Beijing is presenting itself as a regional peacemaker while trying to capitalize on the soft power boost it may receive among Arab states and the global South for its criticism of Israeli government policies.
The Biden administration announced new sanctions against 10 Hamas leaders and financial facilitators today, including an operative based in Qatar with close ties to Iran.
Why it matters: The U.S. government is working to disrupt the ability of Hamas, an officially designated terrorist organization, to raise money and finance attacks against Israel.
President Biden landed in Tel Aviv today to show solidarity with Israel in its war against Hamas, and to try to prevent the war from spreading. But the Middle East is already bubbling over with rage — and the war's shockwaves are increasingly tough to contain.
Driving the news: A deadly missile blast Tuesday at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds of Palestinians, Gaza officials said — and inspired protests throughout the Arab world. The day felt like a turning point in a war in which signs of escalation and rising tension are all around.
American academic institutions are grappling with how to respond to the Israel-Hamas war for fear of angering students, faculty, donors and alumni.
Driving the news: After a pattern of communication missteps from some of America's top schools, a group of multifaith colleges and universities banded together to issue a joint statement supporting Israel and opposing Hamas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded China's Belt and Road Initiative during his visit to Beijing this week, where leaders from more than 130 countries are gathering for the largest internationalforum China has hosted since before the pandemic.
Why it matters: The Belt and Road Forum demonstrates the convening power Xi Jinping has built in the decade since he launched his signature foreign policy initiative — and the challenge China now poses as Xi envisions China as a rival global power to the U.S.
X announced Tuesday that it will begin testing a subscription method that includes a $1 annual fee for new users.
Driving the news: New users in New Zealand and the Philippines will have to pay the fee in order to post content, like posts, reply, repost or quote other accounts' posts, per a post on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
More than 1,400 Israelis and over 2,800 Palestinians have been killed, thousands have been injured and more than 1 million have been displaced since the latest fighting between Israel and Hamas began after the militant group's Oct. 7 attack. Hamas is believed to be holding 199 hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli officials.
The latest: Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) in an online post Wednesday called on Gaza City residents "to evacuate south for their protection" to Al-Mawasi, where it said international humanitarian aid would be provided.
Hundreds of people were killed in a strike on the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City late Tuesday local time, according to the enclave's Ministry of Health.
The big picture: Palestinian officials said the Israeli military was behind the strike, while Israel denied involvement and blamed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Many people had been sheltering or receiving treatment in the hospital when the strike hit, the Hamas government said.
The number of Americans killed in the surprise Hamas attack on Israel has climbed to 31, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday. U.S. citizens are also among the hostages being held by the militant group in Gaza.
The latest: Kirby confirmed the rise aboard Air Force One as he traveled with President Biden and other White House officials en route to Israel ahead of their Wednesday arrival in Tel Aviv.
Why it matters: The measurements warn that parts of the Amazon Basin, the largest watershed in the world, are being stressed and the deterioration of the one of the most biodiverse places on Earth may be accelerating.
