Good morning, readers!

If you thought the situation in the Mediterranean couldn’t escalate further, think again. As was the case with the Ukraine-Russian conflict, talks of using nuclear weapons are being floated once again.

✱ ALSO: The US is more involved in the Israel-Hamas war than you might think…

Today’s hotspots

Israel's nuclear option.

An Israeli lawmaker has called for her country to unleash a “doomsday” weapon against Hamas and Palestine, sparking outrage and fear.

But what is this weapon and why is it so controversial?

The Jericho.

This is Israel’s secret nuclear arsenal, consisting of three types of ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.

• Jericho-1: Developed from 1960s to 1970s and had a range of 500km (311 miles).

• Jericho-2: Developed from 1970s to 1980s and had a range of up to 7,800km (4,847 miles).

• Jericho-3: Introduced in 2011 and has a range of up to 11,500km (7,146 miles). It is the most advanced version.

*The maximum ranges stated above are estimates.

The lawmaker.

Revital Gotliv, a Likud member of the Israeli parliament, called for Jericho missiles to be used before introducing troops into Gaza.

🔎 It is roughly translated as:

Criticism.

Her tweets have set off a firestorm of criticism, both at home and abroad.

• Many are accusing her of being irresponsible, reckless, and warmongering.

• Critics warn that playing with nuclear fire could spark a humanitarian catastrophe, violating international law and putting millions of lives in the crosshairs.

Nuclear threat.

• While Israel maintains a veil of silence on its nuclear arsenal, it’s an open secret that they possess them.

• Estimates suggest a stockpile of 80 to 400 warheads, making Israel the region’s sole nuclear power.

• Their strategy: A doctrine of “nuclear ambiguity,” subtly hinting at their capabilities to deter adversaries, without any official confirmation or denial.

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇺🇸 United States:

US Special Ops join Israel in the fight against Hamas.

It has been revealed that US Special Operations Forces have teamed up with Israeli forces to combat Hamas. This collaboration is in addition to a team of hostage rescue experts that the US has sent to advise the Israeli military.

✱ NOTE: A US aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, is on its way to the Mediterranean in a show of support. The USS Gerald R. Ford is already in the region.

🇪🇺 European Union:

Musk faces EU wrath over graphic content on X.

The bloc’s digital chief Thierry Breton has given Musk 24 hours to remove violent and hateful posts related to the Israel-Hamas conflict or face hefty fines. X, formerly known as Twitter, has been flooded with graphic images and disinformation that violate the EU’s content rules and X’s own policies.

✱ NOTE: The UK is also cracking down on online antisemitism and extremism and has summoned major tech companies for a meeting.

🇺🇸 United States:

Even Dems want Biden to freeze Iran’s $6B.

Biden’s own party is turning against him over his Iran deal. Some influential Democratic senators are urging the administration to block $6 billion in Iranian assets that were unfrozen last month as part of a hostage swap. They suspect Iran may have funded the terror group.

✱ NOTE: The White House has not confirmed Iran’s role in the attack, but admits Iran has funded and trained Hamas for years.

🇮🇱 Israel:

Netanyahu and Gantz join forces.

The prime minister and his rival have agreed to form an emergency unity government to deal with Hamas. The move is unprecedented and shows how serious the situation is for the Jewish state.

• The unity government will last until the end of the war and will have a small “war cabinet.”

• The agreement also means that no discussions about the controversial judicial reforms will take place in the parliament.

✱ NOTE: Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who previously formed a coalition to oust the prime minister, is also invited to join the government if he wishes.