Day 586 - Famine in Gaza? UN-linked group admits data not strong

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Legal reporter Jeremy Sharon and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Yesterday, the United Nations-linked Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) organization said in a “Special Snapshot” briefing that “the Gaza Strip is still confronted with a critical risk of famine,” and that “the entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people [one in five] facing starvation.” Israel has accused IPC of a “lack of transparency” with regards to the source of its data, and it said the IPC’s Special Snapshot failed to take into account “the massive volume of aid, especially food, that entered Gaza during the ceasefire.” Sharon weighs in. 

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Tuesday ordered the military to begin sending conscription orders to all draft-age members of the ultra-Orthodox community at the start of the next recruitment cycle in July. How much authority does she have and will anything change? 

President Isaac Herzog on Monday became the first foreign leader to be hosted by new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, just six days after he took the helm of Germany’s government, with Berlin and Jerusalem marking 60 years of strong diplomatic ties. Spiro was there and reports back.

Singers from 37 countries are now in Basel, Switzerland, for the annual Eurovision Song Contest this week. We learn about Israel's candidate Yuval Raphael and some of the challenges she faces.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Food security NGO warns of ‘critical’ famine risk in Gaza; Israel says study ‘flawed’

Attorney general urges conscription of all draft-age Haredim starting this summer

In Berlin, Herzog lauds 60 years of German-Israel ties, even as Gaza war casts shadow

Eurovision kicking off in Basel with glitz, schmaltz and little love for Israel

Israel’s Yuval Raphael and her team met by protests, threat as Eurovision week kicks off

After surviving Nova, Israel’s Eurovision hopeful is ready to ‘give my dreams a chance’

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch.

IMAGE: Palestinians line up to get a ration of hot food from a charity kitchen set up at the Islamic University campus in Gaza City on May 12, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

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