A raid by Israeli special forces in the southern Gazan city of Rafah this morning secured the freedom of two hostages of Hamas, the military said, the second known rescue of its kind in Gaza since the start of the war. To provide cover, Israel’s military said it had launched a wave of attacks, which Gaza’s health ministry said resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians.
The two men who were rescued are dual citizens of Israel and Argentina. Here’s the latest.
The operations were met with elation in Israel, where hostage recovery is a top priority, and fear in Gaza. More than a million Palestinians have crowded into Rafah, many of whom have fled their homes during the war. Some Palestinians worry that the raid was just the beginning of extended Israeli operations in the city.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that Israeli ground forces will eventually enter Rafah with the goal of eliminating Hamas battalions there, despite U.S. warnings that an attack on the city would be disastrous.
The Senate is poised to advance Ukraine aid
Eighteen Senate Republicans are expected to buck their party tonight and join Democrats in advancing a $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes assistance for Ukraine and Israel.
The legislation would direct around $60 billion toward helping Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion, around $14 billion toward Israel’s war against Hamas, and almost $10 billion toward humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Palestinians in Gaza. The package is opposed by the majority of Republican senators and Republican leaders in the House and, perhaps most notably, Donald Trump.
The support from the Republicans, mainly national security hawks, would put the package on track to pass the Senate within days. The legislation’s fate in the House remains uncertain.
Finland’s new president faces an unlikely first test: Trump
Finland, NATO’s newest member state, elected Alexander Stubb as president yesterday, elevating a pro-U.S. candidate who had pushed for a stronger trans-Atlantic partnership. However, Stubb will enter office at a time when U.S. politics have thrown the future of the NATO alliance into doubt.
Trump, the likely Republican nominee, said this weekend that, if re-elected, he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” against NATO allies that do not contribute sufficiently to collective defense. Many top Republicans defended the former president. His comments are a harsh reminder to many European nations that banking on Washington in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is no longer as sure a bet as it seemed.
An election upset in Pakistan
In a shocking result this weekend, the party of Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, won the most seats in Pakistan’s parliamentary elections, despite the military’s efforts to suppress support.
The result humiliated the country’s powerful generals, upended most political forecasts and created a political crisis. Now both Khan’s party and his rivals are jockeying to win enough support to lead the government.
More top news
Should you cook on a first date?
Dinner on the first date is a traditional move. But a dinner date at home? Not so much. Still, some singles believe that cooking on a first date can be a good way to avoid the awkwardness of feeling trapped at a restaurant, or getting stuck with a hefty bill.
We talked to couples who tried out the unconventional dating move to hear how the gesture was decided on — and received.
A tiny view inside a royal palace
An exhibit at Windsor Castle, the British royal family’s opulent residence, offers visitors an intimate view of what royal life looked like a century ago. It includes up-close views of the grand dining room, landscaped gardens and a replica of the Imperial State Crown — but at one-twelfth the scale.
The exhibit is celebrating the centenary of a doll house that was given to Queen Mary, the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1924. Mary was 57 at the time, and the house was never intended to be played with by children. Instead, it was designed to depict the best of British craftsmanship as a gift for a royal who loved all things miniature.
Have a charming evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
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