Israel threatened to end the Gaza cease-fire
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, yesterday warned that “intense fighting” would resume in Gaza if Hamas did not release hostages by noon on Saturday. His statements closely echoed President Trump’s threats against Hamas on Monday after the Palestinian group said it would postpone releasing hostages.
Netanyahu did not specify how many hostages would have to be freed to stop a renewed war. Three hostages were scheduled to be released this week.
In Washington, Trump met with King Abdullah II of Jordan yesterday and insisted that the U.S. would “take” Gaza. He repeated that other countries in the region, namely Jordan and Egypt, should take in the Palestinians currently there. Egypt and Jordan rejected the idea when Trump raised it last week. Rather than pushing back directly, Abdullah said it would be best to consult with other Arab nations. Follow our coverage.
Aid: On the eve of Abdullah’s visit, Trump said he could cut aid to Jordan unless it took in Palestinians. Jordan receives more than $1.5 billion from the U.S. each year. Experts say that the survival of the king’s rule depends on his digging in against Trump’s plan.
Related: The Palestinian Authority announced that it would end payments to the families of Palestinians jailed or killed by Israel. Analysts saw the move as an attempt to curry favor with Trump and to bring much-needed foreign aid into Palestinian coffers.
More on Trump
Nations warn of retaliation over U.S. tariffs
Canada, Mexico and European countries denounced Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum as unfair and threatened yesterday to retaliate.
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, said that his country would “be working with our international partners and friends” to pressure the Trump administration to hold off on the tariffs, which are set to go into effect on March 12. He also said he was ready to respond with countertariffs.
European leaders promised to react firmly but weren’t specific about what that response would look like. Mexican leaders called the tariffs “unjustifiable” and planned to appeal to Trump in a bid to fend them off.
Can European troops keep the peace in Ukraine?
The prospect of a peace deal for Ukraine is sure to be a focus this week at the annual Munich Security Conference, which Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to attend.
Experts say that deterring Russia from reinvading Ukraine once the war ends would require 150,000 troops and U.S. help with air cover, intelligence and missile defense. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has spoken of as many as 200,000 foreign troops on the ground. My colleague Steven Erlanger looked at the possibilities for European “boots on the ground.”
The highest-grossing movie ever in China is “Ne Zha 2,” an animated film about a demonic child that fights monsters. It is part of a trend in the world’s second-largest movie market: Domestic films with patriotic messages or roots in traditional culture are outperforming Hollywood hits.
Lives lived: Maria Teresa Horta, a feminist writer who helped shatter conservative Portugal’s strictures on women, died at 87.
Recapping New York Fashion Week
Fashion Week came to an end in New York City yesterday. Vanessa Friedman, our chief fashion critic, spoke to us about what she saw on, and off, the runway.
What defined this year’s NYFW?
Vanessa: The themes were, predictably, shaped by the current political moment; designers said they had started making their collections in one reality, and after the election, the looks started to change. That meant wrestling with questions of femininity — what does that look like when traditional gender definitions are resurgent? — as well as whether to wear your values on your sleeve (or your runway).
In terms of trends, there were a lot of over-the-knee boots and a lot of fringing. A more polished, tailored kind of sportswear is also staging a return. People want to feel pulled together when so much of life seems out of their control.
What got people talking?
The big news in New York was the return of Calvin Klein to the runway after almost seven years away. Klein defined a certain kind of American minimalism and suiting for decades; the brand is hoping to reclaim that territory and redefine American style under new designer Veronica Leoni. Her show was pretty loyal to the heritage — too loyal, really — but it did feel like the beginning of a new era.
