President Biden said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday that if Israel invades the Gaza city of Rafah, the U.S. will stop supplying it with artillery shells, bombs for fighter jets and other offensive weapons.
Why is it matters: This is the first time that Biden or any other official in his administration has said publicly that an Israeli military ground operation in Rafah will result in a halt to the supply of offensive weapons to Israel.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sent a letter to President Biden expressing alarm about the White House decision to put on hold a weapons shipment to Israel and asking for details about the decision by the end of the week.
Why it matters: The unprecedented move by the Biden administration, first reported by Axios on Sunday, was a way for the U.S. to signal its concern over Israel's plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, U.S. officials said.
Senior Israeli officials have expressed "deep frustration" with the Biden administration over its decision to pause a weapons shipment to Israel, warning the move could jeopardize hostage negotiations, two sources briefed on the issue told Axios.
Why it matters: The unprecedented move by the Biden administration, first reported by Axios on Sunday, was a way for the U.S. to signal its concern over Israel's plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, U.S. officials said.
European Union diplomats in Brussels agreed on Wednesday to use frozen Russian state assets to aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia's unprovoked invasion.
Why it matters: Since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022, the West has frozen around $300 billion worth of sovereign Russian assets, but until recently, it has made little progress in deciding if or how to leverage those assets to aid Ukraine.
The weapons shipment to Israel that the Biden administration decided to put on hold last week included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, a senior U.S. official told Axios.
Why it matters: The unprecedented move by the Biden administration, which was first reported by Axios last Sunday, was a way for the U.S. to signal to Israel its concern over a possible ground operation in Rafah, the senior U.S. official said.
The White House thinks the Israeli operation to capture the Rafah crossing doesn't cross President Biden's "red line" that could lead to a shift in U.S. policy towards the Gaza war, two U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The Biden administration has expressed deep concern about the possibility of a major Israeli military invasion in the southern Gaza city where more than one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
The Biden administration says the current positions presented by Israel and Hamas allow the gaps in hostage deal and ceasefire negotiations to be closed and put a deal within reach, White House spokesman John Kirby said in a briefing with reporters.
Why it matters: A deal would lead in the first phase to the humanitarian release of up to 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in return for up to 42 days of ceasefire and the release of about 800 Palestinian prisoners.
A U.S. Army solider stationed in South Korea was accused of theft and arrested in Vladivostok, Russia, on May 2, according to the Army.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Russia are already negotiating over other arrested Americans who the U.S. has deemed wrongfully detained, and the arrest of Staff Sgt. Gordon Black could escalate tensions between the two countries further.
Ukraine's state security service said on Tuesday it thwarted another Russian plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, resulting in the arrests of two Ukrainian colonels.
Why it matters: Since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian officials have said there have beendozens of Russian-organized assassination attempts on Zelensky.
A nonprofit organization devoted to ending fentanyl overdose deaths today launched a new, bilingual campaign aimed at U.S. Latinos.
Why it matters: Studies show the rate of overdose deaths for Latinos almost tripled in the last decade, but few resources are modeled specifically for Latinos.
A site along the U.S.-Mexico border where enslaved people passed while using the Underground Railroad into Mexico is getting important recognition from the U.S. National Park Service.
Why it matters: Historians believe that between 4,000 to 10,000 enslaved Black people may have migrated south, yet there's been little documentation and mentions in history books about the Underground Railroad to Mexico.
Israeli forces took over the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza after capturing the Palestinian side of the strategic site on Monday night, according to Palestinian and Israeli officials.
Why it matters: The Rafah crossing is one of the main delivery routes for humanitarian assistance to Gazans. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) warned on Tuesday that its closure is jeopardizing aid for refugees in the enclave.
NYPD officers arrested several pro-Palestinian protesters near the Met Gala after hundreds marched across New York City on Monday.
The big picture: Pro-Palestinian activist group Within Our Lifetime had called for a "Day of Rage" demonstration against the Israel-Hamas war, starting from Hunter College, about 1.2 miles from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Israeli officials claim the Biden administration knew about the latest hostage and ceasefire deal proposal Egypt and Qatar negotiated with Hamas, but didn't brief Israel before Hamas announced it accepted it on Monday. A senior U.S. official pushed back saying "American diplomats have been engaged with Israeli counterparts. There have been no surprises."
Why it matters: The episode has created deep disappointment and suspicion among senior Israeli officials regarding the U.S. role in the hostage deal talks and could negatively influence the negotiations going forward.
New York City's Met Gala returned for a take over The Metropolitan Museum on Monday night.
The big picture: The dress code of this year'sMet Gala, often called fashion's biggest night, is "The Garden of Time," and as stars gathered for the event pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside, and several demonstrators were arrested
