The Israeli Foreign Ministry is instructing its embassies to pressdiplomats and politicians in their host countries to issue statements against South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice that accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, according to a copy of an urgent cable obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The cable, sent by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Thursday, illustrates Israel's diplomatic action plan ahead of next week's ICJ hearing: to create international pressure on the court to not issue an injunction that orders Israel to suspend its military campaign in Gaza.
Russia's military has begun using multiple North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles to conduct a wave of strikes on Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday.
The big picture: National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters the U.S. would raise this "significant and concerning escalation" with the UN Security Council and warned American intelligence indicates the Kremlin plans to buy missiles from Iran.
As the fighting in Gaza continues to intensify, the U.S. is increasingly becoming more involved — militarily and diplomatically — in three other hotspots in the Middle East, with fears growing that rising tensions could spiral into a much bigger war.
Why it matters: One of the Biden administration's main goals since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack has been to prevent the fighting in Gaza from spilling over to other parts of the region. But as time passes, this is becoming harder to achieve.
A second set of court filings related to Jeffrey Epstein was unsealed in New York on Thursday, one day after the first tranche was released.
The big picture: The newly unsealed filings also feature dozens of names related to a civil lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced last year to 20years in prison on sex trafficking and other charges for helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. Being named in the filings does not equate to being accused of wrongdoing.
New Mexicans impacted by the Trinity Test — the world's first atomic explosion — say they are still hopeful one day they'll be included in a federal compensation bill despite Senate leaders last month pulling a provision that would have done that.
The big picture: A federal law that awards financial reparations to people who lived downwind of nuclear testing sites is scheduled to sunset this summer if Congress does not renew it, and it's unclear what lawmakers will do.A provision in last year's bill to renew the act would have included New Mexicans and others for the first time.
Three Puerto Rican filmmakers tell Axios that they hope the strides they made in cinema last year will lead to larger momentum for other up-and-coming filmmakers.
Why it matters: Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory and its historic economic hardships have resulted in limited resources for art forms like cinema. But from major blockbusters to award-nominated indies, filmmakers say there's a path for Puerto Ricans to succeed.
ISIS claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack in Iran that killed more than 80 people who had gathered for a ceremony honoring a top Iranian commander killed in a U.S. drone strike four years ago.
The big picture: It was the deadliest attack in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and came amid escalating tensions across the region.
The Vatican on Thursday defended Pope Francis' recent decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, after bishops around the world condemned the doctrine.
Why it matters: The dissent underscored a wider divide between traditionalist and more conservative Catholic leaders on Francis' goals for the institution and its future membership.
Biden envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Israel on Thursday to push for a diplomatic deal to calm down the tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Why it matters: The Biden administration is deeply concerned that the escalating border skirmishes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah could lead to an all-out war that could be even worse than the Gaza conflict. Tensions escalated further on Tuesday after Israel killed a senior Hamas official in a strike in Beirut.
Why it matters: Biden administration appointee Tariq Habash is at least the second official, and the first who's known to be of Palestinian origin, to resign in protest over the U.S. response to the war.
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas Wednesday, alleging that its new immigration law is unconstitutional.
The big picture: The law, which set to take effect in March and gives local police authority over immigration enforcement, has faced criticism over its potential to lead to racial profiling.
