Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says allowing limited aid into Gaza is necessary so that the war against Hamas ‘cannot be stopped’

Israel allowed some aid into Gaza on Monday, ending a two-month blockade. Coupled with equivocation over battlefield strategy, the move highlights the government’s effort to balance competing interests.

Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and today is Friday, May 16th, 2025. This is The Excerpt. Today we get a closer sense of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Plus the Supreme Court wrestles with birthright citizenship questions and what to expect from a giant military parade this summer.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated into one of the most severe emergencies in recent history, with starvation used increasingly as a deliberate tactic of warfare. As of April, 2024, more than 1·1 million people in Gaza are experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity—the highest figures ever recorded in a modern conflict zone.

Israel's total siege of Gaza is entering its third month. Doctors and aid workers said they are seeing malnourished children and hospitals running low on supplies.

International students’ perspectives are key to college papers covering White House policies on campus, but students fearing deportation are reluctant to speak.

What can the UK actually do if Israel is sanctioned over Gaza bombardment? - Keir Starmer faces calls to impose restrictions on everything from sales of fighter-jet parts to bans from international mu