News Wrap: Israeli war cabinet member threatens to quit over Gaza strategy

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Good evening. I'm Laura Barron-Lopez. John Yang is away tonight. There is turmoil within Israel's government. Benny Gantz, a centrist in Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, is threatening to quit if the government does not adopt a new plan for the war in Gaza by June 8.

It comes as a ceasefire deal remains elusive, and no new hostages have been released since November. And earlier today, Israeli airstrikes fell in northern Gaza, toppling buildings in Jabalya, the largest of Gaza's refugee camps, killing 15 and wounding dozens more.

Meanwhile, national security adviser Jake Sullivan is in Saudi Arabia tonight to discuss the war with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He travels to Israel tomorrow.

Back here at home, deadly storms that killed seven people this week in the Houston area have moved on, but a new threat remains dangerous heat. Temperatures are expected to go above 90 degrees, and in many places, including Houston, it will feel above 100.

The heat and humidity throughout the weekend could be dangerous for the nearly half a million homes and businesses in the state of Texas that remain without power.

President Biden issued a disaster declaration to make federal assistance available. Officials say repairs could take weeks.

Temperatures are soaring in other parts of the world, too. India sweltered today with temperatures above 110 degrees even in the middle of its summer months that's hotter than normal. The heat wave is expected to last into next week.

In western Afghanistan, flash flooding from unrelenting heavy rains have killed at least 68 people. Dozens more people are missing. That's on top of deadly floods last week in northern Afghanistan that killed more than 300 people.

And the man accused of trying to assassinate Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, appeared in court today and was ordered to remain behind bars. Supporters laid flowers outside Fico's hospital, and he remains in serious but stable condition. His health minister adds that his prognosis is positive.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend, why young people are pushing for more climate change education and what's behind the recent popularity of Japanese comics and animations in the US.