The Evening: Israel Strikes UN School Complex, D-Day Commemoration, Grateful Dead Archive, and More

Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at School Complex

An Israeli airstrike in central Gaza early Thursday killed dozens of people, reportedly including children, at a UN school complex that had become a shelter for thousands of displaced Palestinians. Israel’s military said the attack had precisely targeted Hamas operatives, including some who had taken part in the Oct. 7 attacks, as the NYT reports.

Hamas Responds to Peace Deal

Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, told Arab negotiators that he would accept a peace deal only if Israel commits to a permanent cease-fire in his first response to a proposal introduced by President Biden to end the eight-month war, as the WSJ reports.

U.S. Won’t Walk Away From Ukraine

President Biden today said the U.S. will “not walk away” from Ukraine and described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “tyrant” at the commemoration of the D-Day landings that changed the course of the second world war, as the FT reports.

Executive Education

The Breakthrough Leadership Program helps rising leaders navigate global issues, fine-tuning key skills for success. Designed for mid-career professionals from marginalized backgrounds, it blends virtual and in-person sessions to provide tools and knowledge for career advancement. Applications close June 28.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers full audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to Donatienne Ruy, Sissy Martinez, Federico Steinberg, R. Daniel Kelemen, Ilke Toygür, and Mathieu Droin's latest commentary, "What’s at Stake with the 2024 European Parliament Elections."

In That Number

80

On Thursday, a dwindling number of World War II veterans were joined by a new generation of leaders to honor the dead, the living, and the fight for democracy in moving commemorations on and around those same beaches where they landed exactly 80 years ago on D-Day.
Source: AP

Critical Quote

We will not walk away, because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated. And it will not end there. Ukraine’s neighbors will be threatened. All of Europe will be threatened.

— President Joe Biden

iDeas Lab

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Active Chinese Warships by Type

China now possesses the world’s largest maritime fighting force, operating 234 warships to the U.S. Navy’s 219. Such preponderance provides an important wartime advantage: one recent study concluded that larger fleets won 25 out of 28 historical wars. Read the full analysis here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

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Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

This Town Upcoming

Tomorrow, at 11:00 a.m., the CSIS Human Rights Initiative launches its new report, "Centering Human Rights in Ukraine's Reconstruction."

On Tuesday, at 11:00 a.m., the CSIS Korea Chair hosts a special discussion with Ambassador Philip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

Also on Tuesday, at 12:00 p.m., the CSIS International Security Program welcomes General Kenneth F. "Frank" McKenzie, Jr., USMC (Ret.), former Commander of United States Central Command, to discuss his new book.

Video

Today, the CSIS Missile Defense Project hosted a conversation with Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, Director of the Missile Defense Agency. The discussion explored the Agency's FY2025 programs, priorities, and budgets. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

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Photo: CSIS

CSIS's Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy discuss the latest polling figures for the European Parliament election, Rishi Sunak’s decision to call an early election in the UK on July 4th, and President Biden’s state visit to France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

I was going to talk more about New Orleans music today—but that will have to wait until next week. A few hours ago the Grateful Dead dipped into their archive and posted this clip. I couldn’t resist.