News Wrap: Biden speaks with Netanyahu amid a growing rift over handling of war in Gaza

Geoff Bennett:

In the day's other headlines: Former President Trump's lawyers say he cannot post the bond to cover a civil fraud judgment of $454 million in New York. The penalty is for inflating his wealth in his business dealings. Today, his lawyers told an appeal court that — quote — "obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount is not possible under the circumstances."

Mr. Trump has until March 25 to pay the full judgment or win a delay. Otherwise, the state could start seizing his assets.

A Texas law that gives police broad powers to arrest undocumented migrants is going to stay on hold for now. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito extended a temporary pause indefinitely today. That gives more time to resolve the law's final fate. The Biden administration says it usurps federal authority. Texas officials say the border crisis affects Texans more than anyone else.

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone today amid a growing rift over Israel's handling of the war in Gaza. White House officials say the prime minister agreed to send a delegation to Washington to discuss a planned assault on Rafah in Southern Gaza, something the president opposes.

Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Adviser:

This is not a question of defeating Hamas.

And any time I hear an argument that says, if you don't smash into Rafah, you can't defeat Hamas, I say that is a straw man. Our view is that there are ways for Israel to prevail in this conflict, to secure its long-term future, to end the terror threat from Gaza, and not smash into Rafah.

Geoff Bennett:

More than one-and-a-half-million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah. So far, though, Netanyahu has insisted the attack must go forward.

Inside Gaza, Israeli forces raided the Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza City, where some 30,000 Palestinians are sheltering. The Israelis said senior Hamas leaders had regrouped there. They said they killed 20 gunmen, including a Hamas commander. The military released video of the fighting and said troops were instructed on avoiding harm to civilians. But the Gaza Health Ministry reported there were deaths and injuries.

A coalition of a dozen governments and U.N. agencies is warning, famine in Northern Gaza is imminent. Their report today estimated up to 300,000 people could face starvation by May.

But, in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the worst is still preventable.

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:

This is an entirely manmade disaster, and the report makes clear that it can be halted. I call on the Israeli authorities to ensure complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods throughout Gaza and for the international community to fully support our humanitarian efforts.

Geoff Bennett:

In response, Israel's foreign minister accused Hamas of violently interfering with attempts to send aid into Gaza.

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea today as Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in South Korea. Blinken met with his counterpart in Seoul and joined South Korea's president for a democracy summit. It came days after the south wrapped joint military drills with the U.S.

Here at home, the EPA has announced a ban on the last type of asbestos being used in the U.S. It's still employed in making chlorine bleach, car brakes and some construction materials. Asbestos is known to cause a number of cancers and is linked to more than 40,000 American deaths each year.

The National Institutes of Health reports advanced new studies have found no evidence of brain injuries from so-called Havana Syndrome. It also offers no explanation for the headaches, balance and sleeping problems first reported by U.S. Embassy staffers in Cuba back in 2016. A lead researcher says what is clear is that: "These individuals have real symptoms that can be quite profound, disabling and difficult to treat."

And on Wall Street, tech stocks led the broader market higher to start the week. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 75 points to close at 38790. The Nasdaq rose 130 points. The S&P 500 added 32.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": the Supreme Court hears two cases with major implications for free speech; Tamara Keith and Amy Walter break down the latest political headlines; and a teacher's Brief But Spectacular take on harnessing artificial intelligence in schools.