Early this morning, Israeli drones fired on a densely populated refugee camp in the West Bank and hundreds of Israeli troops were sent into the area’s narrow streets and alleys. The military said the goal of the assault, the biggest in nearly two decades, was to root out armed militants after a year of escalating violence there. At least eight Palestinians were reported to have been killed.
The drone strikes on the Jenin refugee camp were far more limited than the aerial attacks Israel has made on Gaza, but Israel has not used this level of air power against West Bank militants since the second Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule, in the early 2000s.
“The camp is a war zone in the full meaning of the word,” Muhammad Sbaghi, a local administrator, said.
Tensions have escalated in the area recently, with local Palestinian militias waging a series of attacks against Israelis, and extremist Jewish settlers rampaging through Palestinian villages and setting fire to property. There have been almost daily raids by the Israeli military to arrest Palestinians suspected of armed activity.
G.O.P. candidates hesitate to pledge their loyalty
To participate in the first Republican debate on Aug. 23, candidates must meet a variety of criteria. Most controversial among them: a promise to support the party’s eventual nominee. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, has agreed, while Will Hurd, the former Texas congressman who has publicly opposed Donald Trump, said that he wouldn’t. Still, most of the candidates — including Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida — have yet to commit either way.
On the trail, DeSantis has committed to “holding woke corporations accountable,” with one specific corporation in mind: Disney. Here’s what its executives are thinking.
Migrant crossings are down. But for how long?
It’s been almost two months since Title 42 was lifted, which allowed the U.S. to swiftly expel migrants at the southern border. Many of the worst fears about an expected rush of crossings have proven to be unfounded, at least for now. The average number of daily illegal crossings has plateaued around 3,300, less than half of the average in March 2022. The sharp dip has been a welcome development for the Biden administration, but officials say the numbers will eventually pick back up.
My colleague Eileen Sullivan explained the dynamics behind the decrease.
Yellen is heading to China in an effort to ease tensions
Janet Yellen will travel to China this week for the first time as the Treasury Secretary. She is expected to make the case that the U.S. and China are too intertwined to “decouple” their economies, despite actions by the U.S. designed to make it less reliant on China.
“Yellen faces a real challenge in trying to stabilize the tone of relations with China,” Keith Bradsher, our Beijing bureau chief, said.
More top news
France: Nearly a week after the police shooting of a teenager set off violent protests, unrest eased in cities across the country.
Oil: Saudi Arabia and Russia announced cuts in oil production to push up prices.
Earthquake: More than 1,000 people in Alaska reported feeling a 4.6-magnitude quake, which struck northeast of Anchorage.
Climate: Canada’s wildfires are hurting many industries that could put a strain on households, in the latest lesson of the economic toll of climate change.
Education: A lecturer at the University of Chicago was targeted by hate mail after calling her seminar “The Problem of Whiteness,” sparking a debate over free speech and cyber bullying.
Intelligence: The future of a U.S. program to conduct warrantless surveillance on foreign targets is being threatened by a hard-right G.O.P. push to vilify the F.B.I.
Driving: Average car repair costs may exceed $5,000 by the end of the year, as technology, creature comforts and electric vehicles make the job more complicated.
Health: A new blood test can identify pregnant women who are at risk of developing severe or deadly high blood pressure.
Equality: A legal activist group filed a federal complaint against Harvard over its practice of granting admissions preferences to children of alumni.
EVENING WIND DOWN
Make your Fourth of July memorable
When some people think of Independence Day, they picture waving flags and patriotic shirts; others think of fireworks (or even drones). But for many Americans, the food is the star. So, whether you’re in charge of the grill or just hoping to pull together one side dish, we have all the recipes to make your day. An old-fashioned peach cobbler is always a crowd favorite.
To brighten up the mood of any get-together, my colleague Lindsay Zoladz made a playlist specifically for Fourth of July barbecues. Listen here.
For more holiday fun: Test yourself with our quiz about books on American independence.
The year’s best films, so far
We’re already more than halfway through 2023. Yet, if you’re like me, you may not have seen a movie this year that really blew you away. Tomorrow might be a good day to change that, as you enjoy the holiday.
Our film critics made a list of the six best films of the year so far. All are available either in theaters or on major streaming services.
Dinner table topics
Who’s the GOAT? How do we define greatness in sports? GOATs are remembered for their victories, of course — but also for their stumbles.
Racing against himself: Nickademus de la Rosa always ran ultramarathons to win them, but he came to realize that his motivations were more complex. In 2019, he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
The next big thing: ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is launching a publishing company with the potential to sell a vast quantity of books.
A Dutch model: In the Hogeweyk “dementia village,” it can be difficult for visitors to tell the difference between the residents and the staff.
Let’s be honest: Yoga pants are not pants.
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Cook: A Chicago-style hot dog is a joy to eat.
Watch: Three movies from the “Road to …” comedy series air on TCM tonight.
Read: Our editors have book recommendations, both new and old, for your summer break.
Listen: These six podcasts can help you take an actual break this summer.
Rest: Seasonal shifts can derail sleep. Here’s how to sleep better when it’s hot out.
Protect: We have the answers to your sunscreen questions. For starters, keep it SPF 30 or higher.
Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
ONE LAST THING
Why mosquitoes love you so
If you find yourself swatting away mosquitoes more than other people do, biology may be to blame. Mosquitoes appear to be drawn to an odor released by the human body, experts say, and it’s possible that some people emit more than others (even if it’s undetectable to human noses).
Still, there are steps we can all take to avoid being bitten. If you’re going outside, consider skipping fragrant products like perfume and lotion. Also, wear lighter colors. Research suggests that mosquitoes are drawn to dark hues, and bright reds and oranges.
Have a well-prepared evening.
Thanks for reading. We’re off tomorrow for Independence Day. I’ll be back on Wednesday. — Matthew
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