Up First briefing: Gaza's humanitarian crisis; Scalise gets House speaker nomination
People trapped in Gaza describe the worsening humanitarian crisis. Republicans nominate Majority Leader Steve Scalise for House speaker.
Middle East
Israel is at war and focused on eliminating Hamas, Israel's Ehud Barak says
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak talks to NPR's Michel Martin about Israeli government strategy toward Hamas. After Hamas' gruesome assault, Israel has applied tremendous pressure on Gaza.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Tel Aviv to show support for Israel
Blinken says America has Israel's back in its fight against Hamas — but what are the diplomatic goals he hopes to achieve on this vital trip?
Gazans are under siege as Israel retaliates for the massive Hamas attack
Gaza is under siege — cut off from food, water and fuel. Israel is raining down destruction on the Palestinian enclave as its residents try to survive.
How Iran may figure into this new war in the Middle East
NPR's Michel Martin asks Iran expert Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, which aims to promote diplomacy in America's foreign policy, about Iran's role in this moment in the Middle East.
Morning news brief
Days into the Israel-Hamas war, Gaza is in a deep humanitarian crisis. Republicans chose Majority Leader Steve Scalise to be their nominee for House speaker. Scientists use AI to speed up discoveries.
Biden steps up security for Jewish communities in the U.S. after the attack in Israel
President Biden spoke with Jewish community leaders at the White House Wednesday, and said he had asked his administration to boost security for any potential threats to Jews in the United States.
How Israel's Iron Dome detects and intercepts incoming rockets
Israeli civilians are greatly benefiting from the country's advanced missile defense system — the Iron Dome. It's a network of radar detectors and missile launchers that intercept incoming rockets.
The aftermath in an Israeli town hit by rocketfire and Hamas fighters
Israelis in the town of Sderot, just a couple miles from The Gaza Strip, recount the carnage that Hamas militants unleashed there over the weekend.
Why Hamas and Israel reached this moment now — and what comes next
The conflict is expected to escalate even further in the coming days. But for now, Hamas sees itself with the upper hand.