U.S. and 17 Other Nations Call on Hamas to Release Hostages

President Biden and the leaders of 17 other nations called on Hamas on Thursday to release all of the hostages seized during its Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, an effort to raise international pressure on the group’s leader in Gaza to agree to a U.S.-brokered deal, as the NYT reports.

Construction of Gaza Pier

U.S. troops plan to start assembling a floating pier off the coast of northern Gaza as early as this weekend, American defense officials said, part of a Biden administration effort to open new paths for humanitarian aid ahead of a planned Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah, as the WSJ reports.

Macron’s Case

French President Emmanuel Macron made the case Thursday for a stronger, more independent European Union, arguing that Europe needs a more credible defense policy to stand up to Russia and not be a strategic “vassal” to the United States, as The Washington Post reports.

Executive Education

Master the ins and outs of trade policy in just two days with CSIS Trade Guys Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch. Join virtually May 13-14 for Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guys to gain insights into current international trade dynamics, connect with industry professionals, and look over the horizon to see what may be next for U.S. trade policy. Register here by May 6.

Audio Briefs

CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.

Listen here: "Newcomers Bring New Rules: Shared Leadership in a More Multipolar World" with CSIS's Jon B. Alterman.

In That Number

300 kilometers

For the first time, Ukraine has begun using long-range ballistic missiles secretly provided by the United States, giving its military nearly double the striking distance—up to 300 kilometers.
Source: AP

Critical Quote

“The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza, who are protected under international law, is of international concern.”

—President Joe Biden and the leaders of 17 other nations

iDeas Lab

New CSIS analysis finds that the volume of key military goods imports increased sharply in the months following Russia's declaration of partial military mobilization in September 2022, surpassing 500,000 total transactions since the beginning of 2023. Read the full report here.

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

Optics

(Photo credit: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty Images.) Pro-Palestinian students chant during a protest at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 25, 2024.

This Town Upcoming

Tomorrow, at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies assesses the risks and opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative as it enters its second decade.

On Monday, at 9:30 a.m., the CSIS International Security Program welcomes the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Linda L. Fagan, for a discussion on current and future challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Also on Monday, at 4:30 p.m., the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program unpacks the pause on U.S. LNG exports with Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) at the U.S. Capitol.

Video

On Wednesday, the CSIS International Security Program welcomed the Honorable Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, to discuss the global threat landscape and the work of the intelligence community. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

CSIS's Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy discuss Max’s trip to Ukraine, the long-awaited passage of a U.S. national security supplemental, foreign influence attempts by Russia and China in European politics, and more.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Back in the late 1980s-early 1990s, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was a much less commercial, more organic and more intimate affair. I sure was lucky to be there to enjoy it. Among the yearly highlights at the time were performances by the Neville Brothers and the Radiators to close out the festival. I can think back to so many memorable moments from those shows. But perhaps the most memorable and influential performance that I witnessed was the incomparable Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble doing their thing at the Fairgrounds in 1990.

SRV epitomized the spirit of Jazz Fest. Although he hailed from Austin, he was embraced by New Orleans as if here were one of the Crescent City’s own. That certainly had something to do with SRV’s personal relationship and affinity for NOLA musicians like the Neville Brothers. I’ll never forget this performance.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.