Mid East

1440 -  Egyptian officials threatened yesterday to suspend its peace treaty with Israel should the country's forces advance into the border city of Rafah. The warning comes as Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated plans to move into the city, saying evacuation routes were being established for civilians. 

 

APNews - Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other countries have warned of severe repercussions if Israel goes into Rafah. “An Israeli offensive on Rafah would lead to an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe and grave tensions with Egypt,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X. Human Rights Watch said forced displacement is a war crime.

CNN - The Senate is moving closer to passing a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with crucial assistance for Ukraine and Israel following a key vote on Sunday to advance the package. The vote was 67 to 27 — including the support of 18 Republicans despite former President Donald Trump urging GOP lawmakers to block the bill. One more Republican senator voted "yes" on Sunday's procedural vote than Thursday's vote on the bill — a sign that GOP support for the measure has remained consistent and even expanded in recent days. If the bill is passed by the Senate, it would next go to the House, where it's unclear when or whether Speaker Mike Johnson would hold a vote on it. 

NBC - President Joe Biden has been venting his frustration in recent private conversations, including with donors at campaign fundraisers, over his inability to persuade Israeli officials to change their military tactics in the Gaza Strip and specifically named Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the primary obstacle, according to five people directly familiar with his comments. The president has said he’s trying to get Israel to agree to a cease-fire, but Netanyahu is “giving him hell” and is impossible to deal with, the people familiar with Biden’s comments said. In at least three recent instances, Biden has called Netanyahu an “asshole,” according to three of the people familiar with his comments.