The Evening: Gaza’s cease-fire is imperiled

Also, Russia released an American prisoner in a deal with Trump.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 11, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday. Gaza cease-fire under strain Heavy snow and icy weather Plus, the Westminster Dog Show A shelter in northern Gaza yesterday.  Saher Alghorra for The New York Times Trump and Netanyahu agreed: No truce without freed hostages Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said today that Israeli troops would resume "intense fighting" in Gaza, ending a cease-fire there, if Hamas did not release hostages by noon on Saturday. President Trump backed the same deadline last night and again today: If Hamas doesn't comply, Trump said, "all hell is going to break out." Netanyahu left some room for negotiations, and analysts told us that the dispute could possibly be resolved this week. However, the public threats underscored an emerging reality: The future of the cease-fire in Gaza appears to be fragile, and the future of Gaza itself remains unclear. Trump stressed again today that he envisions the U.S. taking over Gaza and expelling roughly 1.9 million Palestinians to nearby countries, like Jordan and Egypt. Sitting beside King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office, Trump said: "We will have Gaza. It's a war-torn area. We're going to take it. We're going to hold it. We're going to cherish it." Jordan flatly rejected Trump's idea when he first proposed it, as did Egypt and many other countries. But today's remarks put new pressure on Abdullah: He relies heavily on American aid, which Trump threatened to withhold if the king did not go along with his plan. At the same time, the king's rule might depend on him digging in against Trump. In related news, the Palestinian Authority said it would stop paying stipends to families of Palestinian prisoners involved in attacks on Israel. Analysts saw the move as an overture to Trump. Elon Musk in the Oval Office today, with his son. Eric Lee/The New York Times Musk faced questions on DOGE Elon Musk, whom Trump has tapped to dismantle what the two men call the "deep state" and sharply reduce the size of the government, answered questions about his effort for the first time this afternoon. He spoke for roughly 30 minutes, making sweeping claims that the federal bureaucracy has been corrupted by cheats and officials approving money for "fraudsters," without offering evidence. Musk insisted that his so-called Department of Government Efficiency was being as transparent as possible. In reality, Musk's team is operating in deep secrecy, surprising federal employees and accessing sensitive data systems. The White House has said Musk's financial disclosure filing won't be made public. Last night, Musk's team announced cuts at the Education Department totaling more than $900 million. In related news, Musk's business empire is benefiting from the early actions of the Trump administration. In other politics news: A top Senate Democrat accused Kash Patel, Trump's nominee for F.B.I. director, of improperly orchestrating a purge of career officials at the F.B.I. The Trump administration fired four FEMA employees over payments to New York City migrant shelters. A judge ordered Trump to hold off $4 billion in cuts to federal funding for research at universities, cancer centers and hospitals. Vice President JD Vance told European and Asian leaders in Paris that the U.S. would dominate the A.I. race. Pope Francis criticized Trump's policy of mass deportations as a violation of dignity. Deb Haaland, Joe Biden's interior secretary, announced a bid for governor of New Mexico. Marc Fogel before his detention in Russia. Sasha Phillips, via Reuters Russia released a U.S. prisoner in a deal with Trump Marc Fogel, an American teacher sentenced to 14 years in Russian prison on drug charges, was released today as part of a deal between the Kremlin and the Trump administration. He flew out of the country on a private plane that belongs to Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. It is not yet clear what Trump and Witkoff agreed to in exchange for Fogel's release. Weeks ago, Trump secretly empowered Witkoff to expand his portfolio, with the aim of opening a negotiating channel with the Russians. For more: Here's what we know about Fogel. It's snowing in Washington. Eric Lee/The New York Times Several winter storms are marching across the U.S. A wintry storm is arriving this evening in the Mid-Atlantic, where it is expected to bring a few inches of snow to the Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia areas. A couple of inches could also fall in New York City, which has already received more snowfall this season than in the past two winters combined. By tomorrow night, significant snowfall is also expected in the Midwest, including in Chicago. Here's what to expect. In California, a storm could bring a risk of flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas around Los Angeles burned by wildfires. More top news New York City: After the Justice Department ordered federal prosecutors to dismiss his indictment, Mayor Eric Adams gave a speech professing his innocence. Wall Street: Goldman Sachs became the latest finance giant to backpedal from diversity promises. Health: Nearly four in 10 American adults are estimated to have fatty liver disease. A new treatment could reduce severe complications, even in some patients with cirrhosis. Economy: With the economy sturdy and inflation still too high, Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, signaled little urgency to lower rates. Court: Stephen Bannon, a longtime Trump adviser, pleaded guilty to defrauding donors who sought to help build a wall at the southern border. Stabbing: "I was dying," Salman Rushdie testified in the trial of the man charged with his attempted murder. China: Think tanks and universities that research human rights abuses and security violations are starting to face legal threats from Chinese companies. Movies: In less than two weeks, the animated film "Ne Zha 2" became the highest-grossing movie ever in China. TIME TO UNWIND Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times Demi Moore is a front-runner for best actress At 62, Demi Moore earned her first Academy Award nomination this year for her starring performance in "The Substance." In the film, she plays a onetime A-lister turned TV fitness instructor who is put out to pasture for the Hollywood sin of existing past 50. We spoke with Moore about how the film resonated with her personally. Calvin Klein's fall collection.  Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times What we learned from New York Fashion Week Fashion Week is coming to an end tonight in New York City. Our fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, talked to us about what she saw. What defined this year's fashion week? Vanessa: The themes were, predictably, shaped by the current political moment; designers said they had started making their collections in one reality, and after the election, the looks started to change. In terms of trends, there were a lot of over-the-knee boots and a lot of fringing. A more polished, tailored kind of sportswear is also staging a return. People want to feel pulled together when so much of life seems out of their control. What got people talking? Vanessa: The big news in New York was the return of Calvin Klein to the runway after almost seven years away. Klein defined a certain kind of American minimalism and suiting for decades; the brand is hoping to reclaim that territory and redefine American style under new designer Veronica Leoni. Maansi Srivastava for The New York Times Dinner table topics Music to ease the pain: In hospitals and hospices, bedside performers offer a new kind of care. Behind airplanes: Contrails conjure a sense of something overwhelming and ineffable, as terrifying as it is beautiful. Strategic video game: Civilization VII has two historians on its design team. A chef's language: Fine-dining menus are more than just word salad. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Armando Rafael for The New York Times Cook: You may have heard of the crowd favorite "Marry Me Chicken." Try "Marry Me Salmon." Read: Kelsey McKinney, the host of the "Normal Gossip" podcast, explores our fascination with dirt in "You Didn't Hear This From Me." Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer's look of the week. Exercise: To reach your fitness goals, start with a road map. Style: Here's how to create the perfect bun, according to experts. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know literary power couples. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times Release the (gorgeous) hounds Thousands of dogs arrived in New York City this week for a single purpose: best in show at the Westminster Dog Show. Tonight at Madison Square Garden, a judge will award the prize to a particularly well-coiffed contestant. Here's how to watch. To better understand what it takes to compete, we spent an afternoon with Louis, a 7-year-old Afghan hound who has twice won best of his breed at Westminster. He spent three hours getting spa treatments. Have a winning evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Natasha Frost contributed to this newsletter. Philip Pacheco was our photo editor. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, 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