Israeli forces kill at least 27 at food site while minister’s al-Aqsa visit causes outrage | First Thing

Six more people die from malnutrition, and Itamar Ben-Gvir is first minister to publicly pray at sensitive site. Plus, head of Google's DeepMind on our AI future

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At least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get food and six others died from starvation or malnutrition in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian officials said, amid a regional outcry over the visit by Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site.

Where did Ben-Gvir visit and what was the reaction? Ben-Gvir led prayers at al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, provoking outrage among regional powers. The compound, which Jews call the Temple Mount, is a highly revered site - the holiest in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. The site is under Jordanian custodianship; under a decades-old agreement, Jews are allowed to visit but not pray there.

What do the Republicans want to do? Last week, Texas Republicans released a proposed new congressional map that would give the GOP a path to pick up five seats in next year's midterm elections, typically when the governing party loses representation in Congress.