Tuesday Briefing: Israel’s attacks on Rafah

Plus, the Met Gala.

View in browser|nytimes.com May 7, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering Israel's strikes on Rafah, and Russia's battlefield nuclear weapons. Plus: Recapping the Met Gala. Displaced Palestinians fleeing Rafah on Monday. Ramadan Abed/Reuters Israel stepped up attacks on Rafah In targeted retaliation for Hamas rocket attacks over the weekend, Israeli forces pounded sites in Rafah yesterday after ordering about 110,000 Gazans to evacuate the city. The action came after Hamas had offered to accept a temporary cease-fire proposal. Israeli officials plan to review the deal, which experts said has minor wording changes from the one recently presented by Israel and the U.S. The developments have left White House officials scrambling to broker a deal, as Israel's closest allies, including the U.S., urge it against staging a large ground operation in Rafah, saying that would take a heavy toll on civilians who are sheltering there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has rejected those calls, saying that the war cabinet had decided unanimously to "continue with its action in Rafah." Analysts say invading Rafah would be a necessary step toward the total victory over Hamas that Netanyahu has pledged — however elusive that may prove — and would mollify his hard-line coalition partners. See the latest updates. Education: Most of Gaza's schools, including all of its universities, have severe damage that make them unusable, which could harm an entire generation, aid organizations said. Shipping: The Houthi militia in Yemen has broadened its attacks on cargo vessels, which is adding to delays, the ocean carrier Maersk said. Biden: Gaza is not at the root of the U.S. president's troubles with young voters, who rank economic concerns higher on the list. A devastated village on the outskirts of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times Russia's nuclear weapon drills Russia said that it would hold military exercises with troops near Ukraine to practice for the possible use of battlefield nuclear weapons. The move increases tensions with the West, and it was Russia's most explicit warning that it could use such weapons in Ukraine. NATO called the announcement "irresponsible." The Kremlin said it was a response to comments by European politicians that suggested more Western intervention, including a refusal by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, to rule out sending French troops to Ukraine. David Cameron, Britain's top diplomat, recently said that Ukraine was free to use British weapons to strike inside Russia. Details: These nuclear weapons, often referred to as "tactical," are designed for battlefield use and have smaller warheads than those meant to target cities. From left, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, Xi Jinping, China's top leader, and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. Ludovic Marin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Xi Jinping in Paris Speaking alongside Emmanuel Macron, the French president, Xi Jinping, China's top leader, spoke out against criticism of his country for its close relationship with Russia during the war in Ukraine. "We oppose the crisis being used to cast responsibility on a third country, sully its image and incite a new cold war," Xi said. His remarks appeared to be aimed at the U.S., which believes that China is aiding Moscow's war by providing satellite imagery and critical equipment. Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, have pressured Xi to call on Moscow to bring the war to an end. Trade: China's manufacturing boom and flagging domestic demand also came up, and Von der Leyen took a firm line. "The world cannot absorb China's surplus production," she said. ADVERTISEMENT MORE TOP NEWS Pool photo by Steven Hirsch Donald Trump: The judge fined the former president another $1,000 for violating a gag order and again threatened to jail him. Here are five takeaways from the trial. Campus protests: Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony. At U.C.L.A. and the University of California, San Diego, the police arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. And at M.I.T., tensions rose after protesters resisted an order to clear their encampment. Read the latest. Russia: A U.S. Army soldier has been detained by the authorities in Vladivostok, a Pacific port city, on charges of criminal misconduct, the State and Defense Departments said. Boeing: U.S. regulators opened an investigation after the plane maker said that it might have skipped required inspections. Europe Italy: Five workers died after inhaling a hazardous gas while working at a water treatment plant in Sicily. Germany: Attacks on officials and politicians have brought fresh worries over political violence ahead of elections this year. Olympics: Paris committed to making the Summer Games more accessible for people with disabilities. Advocacy groups say that the city is still unprepared. Baking records: A 461-foot loaf baked in Suresnes, just west of Paris, has successfully returned the title of world's longest baguette to France. Health Sickle cell: A 12-year-old boy became the first person with the disease to begin a commercially approved gene therapy that could cure the condition. Beethoven's deafness: Scientists found staggering amounts of lead and other toxic substances in the composer's hair. Ultraprocessed foods: Researchers are only beginning to understand their link to poor health. Alzheimer's: A study has proposed that the disease might have a genetic cause for some people, which could broaden the scope of efforts to develop treatments. MORNING READ Raúl Vilchis for The New York Times Generations of immigrants to New York City have played soccer on Sundays at a park in Queens. Teams are loosely organized around national identity, and the community that has grown around the fields offers a sense of home. "We are new in this city and it helps to share our experiences with others," a 36-year-old from Venezuela said. "Sometimes people come just to talk." Lives lived: Laurent Cantet, a French director who made penetrating films such as "Entre les Murs" ("The Class"), died on April 25 in Paris. He was 63. CONVERSATION STARTERS A deflating result: Could large-scale mental health awareness campaigns do more harm than good? Rap beef: A Chinese restaurant in Toronto is playing a surprising starring role in a sparring match between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Catch up on the latest. Celebration and condemnation: A decade ago, the bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst won Eurovision. Neanderthal crafts: Was the Stone Age actually the Wood Age? ADVERTISEMENT SPORTS NEWS Andrew Couldridge/Action Images, via Reuters Back after 22 years: How Ipswich Town secured its return to the Premier League. A long time coming: Lando Norris ended his long wait for a Formula 1 win in Miami. Byron Nelson: Taylor Pendrith captured his first career PGA Tour win. Taking over: American investors are gobbling up the storied teams of the Premier League. ARTS AND IDEAS Nina Westervelt for The New York Times The biggest night in fashion The Metropolitan Museum of Art played host last night to one of the starriest parties of the year: the annual Costume Institute Benefit or, as it's better known, the Met Gala. The event has become famous for its audacious red carpet and highly exclusive guest list. This year's dress code — "Garden of Time," which riffs on the spring exhibition, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," and references a 1962 short story by J.G. Ballard — was widely interpreted as vegetation, vintage or both. "It's like the greatest fashion show on Earth," Vanessa Friedman, our fashion critic, said. On the red carpet, big trends from the night included "naked dressing." On the sidelines, protesters gathered to protest the war in Gaza, creating an atmosphere far different from the one inside the event. Recap our live coverage. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: Miso-chile asparagus with tofu comes together in minutes. Read: The novelist Mona Awad recommends several books to take you through Montreal. Style: Our fashion critic explains how to wear an untucked shirt. Watch: "Familia" is among our picks of international movies to stream now. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha P.S. The Times won three Pulitzer Prizes, including one for our coverage of the war in Gaza. Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018