Wednesday Briefing: U.S. warns it may cut Israel’s military aid

October 16, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering a warning to Israel about aid to Gaza and the latest on the U.S. presidential campaign.

Plus, an investigation into China’s panda breeding program.

Humanitarian aid trucks waiting to cross the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza last month. Amr Nabil/Associated Press

U.S. warned Israel of cuts to military aid over Gaza

The United States has sent a letter to Israel warning that the country could lose military aid if it did not increase the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza within the next 30 days.

American law forbids giving military aid to any country found to be blocking the delivery of U.S.-provided humanitarian supplies. Even as the U.S. has pushed Israel to allow more food and other aid into Gaza, it has continued to send military supplies to Israel, most recently with an advanced air defense system and troops to operate it.

U.S. and international officials have warned in recent weeks that conditions are deteriorating further in Gaza, particularly in the north. A State Department spokesman said that the level of humanitarian aid into Gaza last month was the lowest it had been at any time since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Details: The letter was sent to Israel’s minister of defense, Yoav Gallant, and minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, and was signed by both Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Israel’s retaliation: The government has told the Biden administration that it will avoid striking Iran’s nuclear enrichment and oil production sites when it responds to Tehran’s recent missile attack.

A Secret Service member standing as Donald Trump, with his back to the viewer speaks to a crowd onstage.

A Secret Service agent behind Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Doug Mills/The New York Times

How Trump blends security and politics

Donald Trump has been the target of two would-be assassins in a matter of months. Intelligence agencies have told him that Iran is still threatening to kill him, and Iranian hackers got into the email accounts of his aides.

The Times interviewed people close to Trump and government officials who spoke about how deeply unnerved the Trump campaign has been by the assassination attempts, and how the U.S. security apparatus has responded. As Trump attacks the agencies charged with protecting him and investigating threats, White House officials worry that he is laying the groundwork to blame them in case he loses the election.

More on the U.S. election

Americans head to the polls in less than three weeks.

Progressive candidates and their allies are hoping that abortion can be a driving force to help them remake state supreme courts.
Kamala Harris and her allies are racing to try and strengthen her support with Black voters.
Trump’s political operation has been deploying aggressive accounting strategies to stay financially competitive with Harris.

Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we’ll find the answers.

Justin Trudeau stands behind a podium emblazoned with Canada’s maple leaf, wearing a navy blue suit and tie. Behind him are two other people.

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, yesterday. Dave Chan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Canada’s accusation casts a spotlight on India’s spy agencies

When Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, accused India’s government of working to threaten and kill Sikhs on Canadian soil, it raised questions about the potential reach of a shadowy intelligence network.

India’s neighbors — especially its archrival, Pakistan — are well acquainted with Indian covert operations. India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, is a close adviser of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has been known to wield significant influence by using intelligence to shape foreign policy, according to analysts.

Details: Trudeau offered little evidence to back up his claims, though Canadian agents said the F.B.I. had helped in their investigation. The allegation resulted in the expulsion of high-level diplomats. Read more about the dispute.

MORE TOP NEWS

A mother holds a baby while several doctors in white gowns hold notebooks around her.

Fatuma Adoum, a refugee from Sudan, with one of her 3-month-old twin daughters at a malnutrition center in Adre, Chad. Ivor Prickett for The New York Times

Health: Nearly two million children may die of malnutrition because a product used to treat the condition is in short supply, the U.N. Children’s Fund said.
Iran: A commander of the elite Quds Force was seen in video footage, after questions about his whereabouts.
Britain: The government announced a partnership with Eli Lilly that will include a trial on the impact of a weight-loss drug on work and productivity.
Ukraine: Political infighting is hampering efforts to avert an energy crisis.
South Korea: Hanni, a member of NewJeans, one of the biggest K-pop acts, testified before Parliament about industry bullying.
Hong Kong: Officials have shut down part of a zoo as they investigate the deaths of nine monkeys there over two days.
Cars: China’s ambitions to become a force in the European car market were on full display at the Paris Auto Show.

Sports

A soccer goalie stands waiting on the field. In the background a large crowd waves flags.

Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois. Oscar Del Pozo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Soccer: A Spanish sports governing body has recommended a 15-day stadium closure after recent trouble with crowds at Atletico Madrid matches.
Basketball: Thirty years after its debut, the documentary “Hoop Dreams” remains a compelling look at chasing basketball glory.
Tennis: Novak Djokovic is again fighting his way up from a No. 3 rank, this time behind Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

MORNING READ

A panda sits in an enclosure eating bamboo. In the foreground and out of focus, two people look at the panda.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. Andrea Verdelli for The New York Times

In the 1990s, China began sending pandas to foreign zoos to be bred, in the hope that future generations could be released into nature. But nearly three decades later, more pandas have been removed from the wild than have been released, a Times investigation found. Some have been injured and even killed during the breeding process.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Inside shoes outside: Would you wear $990 slippers? Would you wear them outside?
Stolen marvels: Two ancient Greek cups that were reassembled from fragments are a wonder of art conservation. But investigators think they were looted.
Art market boost: The Paris art scene is expanding, with the opening of a new Sotheby’s salesroom focused on watches, jewelry, handbags and fashion.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

ARTS AND IDEAS

Three people standing together along a low brick wall.

Estefanía León with fellow Venezuelan comedians. Marian Carrasquero for The New York Times

What’s so funny about a dictator?

When Estefanía León was 17, she wrote for a political satire website while Venezuela was in the depths of its 2017 economic crisis. After President Nicolás Maduro’s government outlawed many kinds of speech, she fled to Mexico City, afraid that her jokes would land her in prison.

Eventually, she returned to humor. Today, she plays a principal role in a larger comedy boom of Venezuelans in exile, who are free, for the most part, to say what they want.

RECOMMENDATIONS

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Cook: These crispy balsamic chicken thighs are sautéed in a sweet and savory glaze.

Beautify: Self-care is a concept mostly associated with youth, but it’s as important at 75 as it is at 25.

Heal: We asked experts whether bone broth really does have health benefits.

Listen: These audiobooks can help you make sense of the U.S. election.

Hunt: You can own one of these homes in California for $2 million.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Gaya

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