IDF raids Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza

TEL AVIV — The war is reshaping the economies and labor forces of the region.

Since the war began, at least 18 percent of the Israeli workforce is off the job, according to the Israel Ministry of Labor.

And in Gaza, six in 10 jobs have been lost, according to the United Nations. Forty-five percent of the homes there have been damaged, the agency says, contributing to the area’s sky-high poverty rate.

TEL AVIV — Israeli officials are opening a joint investigation into crimes committed during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in Israel, including a look at sexual violence allegations, a spokesperson for Israel's police force confirmed.

The investigation will be shared by Israel Police, Shin Bet and the IDF.

A court order was issued prohibiting publishing any information that might identify potential suspects or testimony given to investigators, the spokesperson said.

Police said they are evacuating the area around the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., after they made arrests at a chaotic pro-Palestinian rally tonight.

Officers are “working to keep back approximately 150 people who are illegally and violently protesting in the area,” Capitol Police said on X, adding that they’re making arrests and that all lawmakers have been moved from the area.

IfNotNow, a group that describes itself as “American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel’s apartheid system,” appeared to be at the protest, and it accused officers of being violent toward demonstrators.

TEL AVIV — Sara Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister’s wife, has reportedly sent a letter to U.S. first lady Jill Biden claiming that a Hamas hostage gave birth in captivity.

NBC News has not independently verified the claim. 

Biden said tonight that he didn’t believe the Israel-Hamas war would end “until there’s a two-state solution.”

The remark came in response to a question about setting a deadline around the United States’ support for Israel in the conflict.

“I can’t tell you how long it’s gonna last,” Biden said. “But I can tell you, I don’t think it ultimately ends until there’s a two-state solution. I made it clear to the Israelis I think it’s a big mistake for them to think they’re going to occupy Gaza.”

The president was also asked about hostages in Gaza, including a 3-year-old American reportedly being held.

“I’m not gonna stop ‘til we get her,” Biden said.

Two dozen Democratic lawmakers signed a letter today urging President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek a cease-fire in Gaza. 

The letter — signed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Betty McCollum of Minnesota, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and 21 others, many of whom are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus — said the lawmakers were concerned about the intensifying war in Gaza, “particularly grave violations against children, and our fear that without an immediate cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a robust bilateral ceasefire, this war will lead to a further loss of civilian life.”

“We write urging clarity on your strategic objectives for achieving deescalation and stability in the region,” the Democrats wrote. “We understand that the Administration has serious concerns regarding the objectives and consequences of a large-scale ground offensive, and we urge you to press this case directly.”

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For the first time since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Gaza, expressing deep concern over the conflict’s grave impact on civilians especially its disproportionate impact on children.

The United States, United Kingdom and Russia abstained.

The resolution calling for “extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days” to enable rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access was supported by 12 of the 15 member countries.

“The council appears indifferent to the carnage and indifferent to the suffering. Today we have an opportunity to begin changing that perception,” United Arab Emirates' Ambassador to the U.N. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said.

Despite abstaining, the U.K.'s Ambassador to the U.N. Barbara Woodward told the council the resolution would save lives. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas Greenfield said the U.S. could not vote yes on a resolution that failed to condemn Hamas or reaffirm the right of all member states to protect their citizens from terrorist attacks.

U.K.'s Parliament voted today on two conflicting amendments on whether to call for a humanitarian “pause” or “cease-fire,” causing discord within the Labour Party as many disagreed with leadership's push for a pause.

Keir Starmer, Labour leader, received a number of frontbench resignations from members of Parliament today who held positions in the opposition's shadow cabinet. Frontbench-position holders are largely expected to vote along party lines, so the resignations are symbols of dissent.

A total of nine shadow ministers have left their roles over the issue, Sky News reported.

MP Afzal Khan said he could not "in good conscious" vote against a cease-fire and was leaving his role as shadow minister for exports in a letter to Starmer he posted on X.

"I believe it is up to each and every one of us in a position of power to call out the killing of innocent civilians — which every Labour MP has done — and to advocate for the court of action we feel will have the best result," Khan wrote.

Flares rise over the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, foreground, on Wednesday night.

“Even if health facilities are used for military purposes, the principles of distinction and precaution and proportionality always apply,” insisted World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.