In a televised 10-minute address yesterday, Biden called Hamas’s attack on Israel “pure unadulterated evil.” He spoke about young people slaughtered at a music festival, infants and Holocaust survivors abducted,and women “assaulted, paraded as trophies.”As he put it, Hamas’s terrorism evoked “the worst rampages of ISIS.”Then he spoke about US hostages.
What’s the status?
At least 20 Americans are still unaccounted for with 14 confirmed killed.Biden said there was “no higher priority” for his administration than their safe return. He also warned anyone or country thinking of taking advantage of the conflict: “don’t.”And he said “like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond.”
What does the speech mean for the region?
The admin is pushing for more aid to Israel from Congress. Biden didn’t urge Israel to show restraint in Gaza and said “there is no justification for terrorism.”He didn’t address whether he regrets releasing $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran in exchange for the release of five Americans.
What’s the latest on the ground?
In Gaza: Israel is now preparing for a ground invasion after carrying out hundreds of airstrikes that have left over 900 people dead. One man said an Israeli airstrike wiped out 19 members of his family. Palestinians in Gaza do not have bomb shelters and Israel is now carrying out a siege on water, food, and fuel.
In Israel: The death toll is now over 1,200 people — among the deadliest events in Israel’s history. Many are still trying to identify the dead and hostages while Hamas has continued to send 2,000 rockets. Meanwhile, the country is seeing an uptick in gunfire exchange at its northern border with Lebanon.
theSkimm
The US’s relationship with Israel spans decades. Now, Biden is asking for military aid for Israel from a Congress that couldn’t agree on aid for Ukraine.
The Israeli military is considered among the most advanced in the world— boasting a missile defense system, high-tech fence,radar technology, and underground sensors. Still, Hamas’s ground invasion allowed at least 1,500 Hamas militants to break through.Experts are attributing the lapse to:
Distraction: The government and military were focused on a recent wave of protests and attacks in the West Bank tied to expanding Israeli settlements. There were also threats of a potential war from the north, with concerns of Hezbollah militants attacking from Lebanon.The high-tech border with Gaza wasreportedly minimally staffed, allowing explosionsand bulldozers to simply push through.
Tech: Israel’s focus on high-tech and cybersecurity seemed to distract it from a more traditional, low-tech ground assault. Hamas went offline so that Israel’s intelligence couldn’t pick up their communications. That means face-to-face meetings and using couriers over cell phones.One source told Reuters Hamas practiced military landings on a mock Israeli settlement they built.
Military analysts and Israelis will grapple with the security failure on October 7 for years to come. Even US intelligence officials said they didn't see any signs of Hamas’s plans.
And Also...This
What’s manifesting ‘functional’...
The House. Today,the Republican conferenceis expected to voteon who to back as speaker.The House has been without a speakersince last week when eight Republicansvoted out Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for working with Democrats toavoid a government shutdown. Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA) andJim Jordan(R-OH) arefacing off for the job. But the Ghost of Speakers Past might be sneaking in on them.Rumor has it that McCarthy's allies could be working tonominate him as speaker again. If the divided GOP can’t get behind one candidate,then some Republicans might have to reach across the aisle again to get Congress back to work.
What’s getting crispy…
Chickens.Yesterday, scientists said they usedgene editingtechcalledCRISPRon chickens to combat bird flu.Since 2022, more than 50 million birds have diedbecause of the H5N1 virus. Just one chicken could have the virus, but the entire flock would need to get killed which could upset the food supply. Now, scientists are saying that by tweaking the genes of some chickens, they were able to make them resistant to the virus. Still, the researchers said “we’re not there yet” and more work is needed.
For mother-daughter duo Denise and Kay, a love of STEM is a family affair. They started out with school science projects, then took their shared passion for inventing to new heights — together.
The two already have one patent under their belt (casual) with more to come as they advance aerospace at Boeing. Wanna follow their lead? See where inspiration can take you.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days
It’s the second and final day of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. That means it’s your last chance until the next major sale event (ahem, Black Friday and Cyber Monday) to take advantage of the event’s thousands of deals across all categories, from home goods to tech to beauty and fashion. Check out…
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
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3. How to score 20% off the probiotic supplements everyone’s talking about.
This brand’s gut health-boosting, doctor-developed formula contains a probiotic strain so good, they patented it (hi, Akkermansia). But don’t wait. Because this sale ends tonight.*
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
On Our Radar
ICYMI: @skimmshopping is live on Instagram. Our team of experts has curated and vetted recs for, well, just about everything. Add us to your feed and we’ll help you add to cart.
Skimm'rs
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Rockin’ Out…Annabell D (TN). She wrote a song with her band, Tony Honk, called “You’re Full.” Listen here.
