Middle East
The stunning diplomatic shift would appear to be the first instance of the Biden administration withholding U.S. arms from Israel since Oct. 7.
The move dashed hopes that diplomacy would stop Israel from carrying out its deeply controversial attack on Rafah, the last refuge for 1.5 million Palestinians. A U.S. official questioned whether Israel was acting "in good faith."
Former Rep. John Hostettler, an opponent of foreign aid, is accused of trafficking in antisemitic tropes. His response to criticism has not helped.
The Israeli military said it was conducting “targeted strikes” against Hamas in eastern Rafah.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
University of Southern California's student journalists recorded police surrounding largely peaceful demonstrators protesting Israel's siege on Gaza.
Israel's defense minister vowed the military would carry out a "powerful operation in the near future in Rafah," threatening the prospect of a cease-fire deal.
The extraordinary order is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet.
A top U.N. official says there is now a full-blown famine in northern Gaza, while Israel insists it will launch an offensive into Rafah.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would be “at imminent risk of death” if Israel moves forward with the Rafah assault, the United Nations humanitarian aid agency said.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke to HuffPost about a "warning sign" ahead of a deadline for Biden to say if Israel is violating international and U.S. law.