For the past week, an international outcry has been building, particularly in Europe, over Israel’s plans to escalate its military campaign in Gaza and over its two-month-long blockade, which has put Gaza’s population on the brink of starvation.

On Wednesday in Washington D.C., two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed by a man who chanted “Free Palestine” afterward.

Aaron Boxerman, who covers Israel and Gaza for The Times, explains the desperate situation in Gaza … and Israel’s fears that the world has become an increasingly dangerous place for its people.

Guest: Aaron Boxerman, a reporter for The New York Times covering Israel and Gaza.

Background reading: 

• Britain, France and Canada have condemned Israel’s expansion into Gaza.
• Israel said it eased its blockade, but Gazans are still waiting for food.
• Here’s what we know about the deadly shooting outside the Jewish Museum in D.C.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

A man accused of gunning down two Israeli embassy staffers appears to yell “free, free Palestine” in a video of his arrest. House Republicans pass a budget bill that faces an uphill climb in the Senate. And the Supreme Court blocks the nation’s first religious charter school from being established in a 4-4 ruling.

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Combat roles have been open to women for a decade, but President Donald Trump's Pentagon still questions whether women can be lethal. Army veteran Emelie Vanasse says the debate over women's battlefield fitness is long settled.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin with help from Denise Guerra, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd and hosted by Noel King.

Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast.

Army veteran Emilie Vanass outside Army Ranger School at Camp Rogers in Fort Benning, GA. Image courtesy Emilie Vanass.

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Vice President JD Vance met with the new pope a few days ago. He then sat down with The Times to talk about faith, immigration, the law and the partisan temptation to go too far.

Ross Douthat, an opinion columnist and the host of the new podcast “Interesting Times,” discusses their conversation.

Guest: Ross Douthat, an Opinion columnist and the host of the “Interesting Times” podcast.

Background reading: 

• Ross’s conversation with JD Vance.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Photo: The New York Times

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Trump administration formally accepts a plane from the Qatari government. The Justice Department walks back police reform agreements. And prisoners are still on the loose from a New Orleans jail.

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“You are tearing me apart, Congress.”

This episode was produced by Devan Schwartz with help from Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Seam Rameswaram.

Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast.

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson ahead of a House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.

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