Biden condemns Hamas’s ‘sheer evil’ as Israeli death toll rises to 1,200 | First Thing

President says Hamas does not represent legitimate aspirations' of Palestinian people and says US stands with' Israel. Plus, the Chinese women shaking off taboos around divorce

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Good morning.

Joe Biden has pledged unflinching support for Israel, calling the assault by Hamas that left nearly 1,000 people dead an act of sheer evil", as reports emerge of a massacre at a kibbutz.

What's happening in Gaza? More than 900 people in Gaza have been killed in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes, and Israel is enforcing a blockade that has sealed off the besieged territory of 2.3 million people from food, fuel and other supplies. Frightened residents of Gaza have described bombardments striking residential buildings, hospitals and schools, while humanitarian workers have said nowhere is safe.

What has the US said about Gaza? The US is discussing the possibility of creating a safe passage for Gaza's civilians as Israel's air force continued to pound the enclave. The US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that talks on safe passage were being held with Israel and Egypt.

What else does the new law say? The 12-week ban included a requirement that abortion patients show up for an in-person consultation at an abortion clinic at least 72 hours before their abortion. That requirement was devastating for patients and providers, Hales said. It confused patients and left providers scrambling to schedule patients twice at already crowded clinics. This rule is a huge obstacle for out-of-state residents who either have to take two trips or find accommodation to stay multiple days.