Axios

92NY announced Monday that it's pausing its prestigious literary reading series after pushback for canceling an event with a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has made comments critical of Israel.

The big picture: It's the latest example of those critical of Israel reporting that their events have been canceled or postponed, or their voices silenced in the media.

Hamas on Monday released two elderly Israeli hostages for what it said were humanitarian reasons.

The big picture: The release of Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, comes just days after Hamas released an American mother and her teenage daughter from captivity. The group is still holding more than 200 people, including Americans, hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Former President Obama warned Monday that a possible Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas' surprise attack could "backfire" if Palestinian civilians aren't protected.

Why it matters: Israel has said it intends to eliminate Hamas' military capabilities in a future operation, but depending on the military tactics employed, doing so in a dense urban environment like Gaza could endanger thousands of people.

President Biden, when asked about whether the U.S. would support a potential Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of hostages, Biden said: "We should have those hostages released and then we can talk."

The big picture: Hamas on Monday released two elderly Israeli hostages for what it said were humanitarian reasons. The group is still holding more than 200 people, including Americans, hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Tens of thousands of women across Iceland, including Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, are expected to go on a one-day strike Tuesday in support of greater gender equality.

Driving the news: All women and non-binary people in the country who can are encouraged to stop both paid and unpaid work for the day in order to demonstrate the importance of their contributions to society and as a collective action to fight for equality, organizers said on the event website.

A Russian court on Monday extended Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva's detention by another six weeks, her employer announced.

Why it matters: Kurmasheva has dual U.S.-Russian citizenship. Her arrest last week, on charges of allegedly failing to register as a foreign agent, made her the second American journalist to be detained by Russia this year.

The Biden administration recently sent a Marine three-star general and several other U.S. military officers to Israel to help advise the Israeli military's leadership in its operation in Gaza, according to two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials briefed on the issue.

Why it matters: The move reflects the Biden administration's deep involvement in the war in Gaza and how much visibility it has in Israel's military planning.

Foxconn, the Taiwan-based maker of Apple products including iPhones, is facing tax and land-use investigations in China, Chinese state media reported Sunday.

State of play: The world's largest contract electronics maker, which is formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., said in a statement to media later Sunday that it will "actively cooperate with the relevant units on the related work and operations."

Former President Trump allegedly shared sensitive information with Mar-a-Lago member Anthony Pratt on calls he had with the leaders of Iraq and Ukraine, according to audio leaked to Australian media.

Why it matters: Australian billionaire Pratt is one of 84 potential witnesses whom federal prosecutors have identified in Trump's classified documents trial, which is scheduled to begin in Florida in May. Trump denied the reports late Sunday.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed on Sunday Axios' report that the IDF found a USB key with instructions for producing a "cyanide dispersion device" on the body of a Hamas operative who participated in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

The big picture: Herzog's comments in an interview with Sky News are part of a wider Israeli diplomatic effort to mobilize support in the West for the Israeli operation against Hamas.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that the Pentagon will send more U.S. missile and air defense systems to the Middle East due to a "prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops throughout the region."

Driving the news: There has been an increase in attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the latest fighting began between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Thousands of U.S. military personnel have been shifted around the globe or told to prepare for deployment.

Why it matters: The Pentagon has scrambled to dispatch significant military might to the Middle East since the terrorist attack on Israel two weeks ago.

The U.S. on Saturday circulated a draft resolution to UN Security Council members condemning Hamas for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, a U.S. official and a Western diplomat said.

The big picture: The resolution doesn't call for a ceasefire in Gaza.