Israel plans to escalate its Gaza campaign
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel declared yesterday that his country was “on the eve of a forceful entry to Gaza.” Israel’s security cabinet has approved a new plan for tens of thousands of additional soldiers to seize territory in the enclave and relocate Palestinians to the south.
Netanyahu said that the new military action would bring home the remaining hostages, but critics warned that the plan would endanger the lives of hostages without fundamentally changing a dynamic created by 18 months of war. The organization representing the families of hostages issued a statement urging Israel not to widen the war.
What’s next: Israel said the offensive would start slowly as cease-fire talks continued ahead of President Trump’s trip next week to the Gulf region. A government spokesman said the campaign called for Israeli soldiers to hold territories for an indefinite period of time “to prevent Hamas from taking it back.”
Aid: The cabinet also approved a new mechanism for allowing the distribution of humanitarian aid. Food shortages in Gaza have reached “catastrophic” levels, the U.N. has warned.
Yemen: Israeli fighter jets bombed the port city of Hudaydah, after Houthi militants fired a missile near Israel’s main international airport this weekend.
The U.S. offered migrants $1,000 to leave
The Trump administration said yesterday that it was offering undocumented immigrants $1,000 and assistance traveling to their native country if they left the U.S. on their own.
Already, officials said, one migrant from Honduras had taken the government up on the offer and flown from Chicago back to his home country. The money will be paid after migrants confirm they have traveled back home through an app.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, said in a statement.
Related: Rwanda’s foreign minister said his country is in early talks with the Trump administration about taking in migrants deported from the U.S.
| More on TrumpIt’s been decades since Alcatraz has operated as a prison. Trump wants to reopen it.Two of Trump’s sons have spent the last two weeks traveling the globe in a blitz of family moneymaking ventures.The Trump administration asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to sharply restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone.Trump said he had asked Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, to let U.S. troops into the country to help fight drug cartels. She rejected the idea.Trump poured cold water on the idea of serving a third term. |
Sexual abuse survivors gathered in Rome, with a message
Survivors of sexual abuse and those who monitor how well the Catholic Church handles abuse cases have arrived in Rome ahead of the papal conclave, which begins tomorrow. They are hoping to persuade cardinals to make the issue a priority when choosing the next pope.
Pope Francis is credited with addressing the issue more strongly than his predecessors had, but new cases continue to emerge and clerical abuse remains a ruinous issue for the Church.
The Vatican spokesman said that during pre-conclave meetings the cardinals had discussed sexual abuse in the church, and considered it a “wound to be kept open” so that awareness of the problem remained alive and concrete paths for healing can be identified.
In other news: Francis’s tomb has caused a stir — among designers and font nerds.
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| War in Ukraine: Thousands of Russian soldiers are missing in the war. Their relatives are often left to fend for themselves to find out what happened to them. And in Ukraine, Odesa has been divided by a cultural battle as residents push to cut any ties with imperial Russia. China: As trade tensions force the U.S. and Chinese economies apart, many businesses in Guangzhou are facing a tipping point. Sean Combs: The music mogul’s trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking began with jury selection in New York City. Sudan: The International Court of Justice dismissed a case accusing the United Arab Emirates of fueling genocide in Sudan, saying it lacked the jurisdiction. Pakistan: The army chief, Gen. Syed Asim Munir, has stepped to the center of sharpening tensions with India. His tough talk is seen as a shift. Peru: The bodies of 13 gold miners were found in an underground shaft at a site operated by the nation’s largest gold-mining company. Brazil: Police said that they had stopped a plot to attack a Lady Gaga concert on Copacabana Beach with improvised explosives. |
News From Europe
| Trade: Many European consumers are starting to avoid U.S. products and services, according to a report from the European Central Bank. Germany: Friedrich Merz is becoming chancellor today at the most challenging time for the nation since its reunification 35 years ago. Here’s what to know about the new government. Spain: More than 10,000 people were left stranded after a technical issue and the theft of cable between Madrid and Seville disrupted high-speed rail travel. |
| Science: As the Trump administration slashes support to research institutions, the E.U. is offering financial incentives to persuade researchers to relocate to Europe. France: The police arrested seven people in connection with the kidnapping of the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. The captive was freed. Czech Republic: Two hikers stumbled upon a trove of gold coins and jewelry. Historians are trying to figure out who buried the treasure. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Soccer: Here’s the inside story of how Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of Liverpool’s homegrown heroes, left the club under a cloud of uncertainty. F1: Lewis Hamilton’s tense radio exchange with his own engineers during another difficult Grand Prix exposes the hidden problems at Ferrari. Snooker: The Crucible Theatre, home of the world championship, needs to be seen to be believed. |
| MORNING READ |
On Saturday, people in Texas who mostly work for SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company, voted to create their own city: Starbase. SpaceX has already been building homes in the area, and has plans for retail stores, a school — and a sushi restaurant near Musk’s house. Here’s a detailed look.
| ARTS AND IDEAS |
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| Nina Westervelt for The New York Times |
The first Monday in May
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Benefit — otherwise known as the Met Gala, fashion’s splashiest party of the year — took place last night. The event honors a Met exhibition about the Black dandy, putting the event on a collision course with the shift to the right in politics and helping it raise a record-setting $31 million. Read more on the politics from our fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman.
The dress code was “Tailored For You.” For many guests, that meant suiting: pastel, pinstripe, three-piece and two-piece; pantsuits, skirt suits and suit dresses. Popular accessories included hats — and musical instruments. Recap our live blog.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris was the surprise guest at the Met Gala, sneaking into the gala without posing on the blue carpet. Rihanna also made a late appearance, in part to support her partner, ASAP Rocky, who is co-chair of the gala. Walking up to the Met, the pop star seemed to confirm suspicions that she is again pregnant when she met shouts of congratulations with: “Thank you!”
For more: Here are 15 unforgettable outfits. See more looks from the red carpet.
| RECOMMENDATIONS |
Cook: Serve these grilled asparagus with burrata alongside lentils, grains or grilled chicken.
