Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Israel returns to deadly force in GazaThe Israeli military relaunched a ground offensive in Gaza on Wednesday following renewed airstrikes on the enclave the previous day, breaking a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.© Ariel Schalit/Associated Press President Trump gave a green light to Israel’s deadly strikes on Gaza, which shattered the fragile ceasefire in place since January, marking a violent turn in his push for peace in the Middle East.   Trump has long warned the U.S. would “unleash hell” on Hamas if it refused to release the hostages it has held since its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. And his administration quickly sought to blame Hamas for the renewed hostilities.  The surprise attacks enraged critics of Israel’s war in Gaza — with Hamas officials reporting that more than 400 Palestinians were killed — and left the families of hostages urging a return to negotiations. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the civilian casualties from Israeli strikes overnight “appalling” and called on Hamas and Israel to “re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end” to the conflict.   “Diplomacy, not more bloodshed, is how we get security for Israelis and Palestinians,” Lammy posted to the social platform X. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) then on Wednesday began “targeted ground activities” in central and southern Gaza, partially retaking a key area in the territory known as the Netzarim Corridor. The strip of land separates the northern and southern parts of Gaza.  In its justification for its airstrikes and military ground campaign, Israel has accused Hamas of refusing to release hostages.  Hamas, meanwhile, blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for breaking the truce and putting the hostages “at risk of an unknown fate.”  Read the full report at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: GOP chairmen ‘very concerned’ over report of Trump changing military commandsThe Republican chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services committees issued a joint statement on Wednesday criticizing the idea of the U.S. drastically changing its military combatant command structure, saying they “will not accept” those changes without coordination with Congress and other agencies. The statement marks one of the first major instances of Republican lawmakers pushing back on President Trump in his second …  Full Story   Zelensky says Ukraine civilian infrastructure hit after Trump-Putin call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday evening that Ukrainian civilian infrastructure was struck following a call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Full Story   Trump: Ceasefire talks ‘on track’ after ‘very good’ Zelensky callPresident Trump said ceasefire talks to end the war between Kyiv and Moscow are “on track” following a “very good call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the latest in the back-and-forth effort to halt the more than three-year conflict.  The call with Zelensky on Wednesday lasted approximately one hour and largely focused on aligning the Ukrainian and Russian positions on a potential ceasefire deal, Trump said …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  U.S. Cyber Command head Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh will speak at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association DOD Cyber Workforce Summit at 9 a.m. Thursday. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman will speak at a Defense One event “State of Defense 2025: Air Force and Space Force" at 2 p.m.   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:House Democrats ask GAO to review DOGE impact at DHS House Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee are asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for an accounting of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) impact at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Since hijacking the U.S. Digital Service to establish DOGE, Elon Musk’s … Full Story   On Tap Tomorrow  Events in and around the defense world:  The Potomac Officers Club will hold its 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit at 8 a.m. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold a hearing on “Crossroads of Competition: China in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands” at 9:30 a.m. The Brookings Institution will have a virtual discussion on “What’s next for US defense strategy and spending?” at 10 a.m.  What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Air Force monitoring bases for compliance with DEI executive orders (Military Times) Lawmakers try again on bill to give 50,000 medically retired veterans full VA sisability, retirement pay (Military.com) Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Murkowski: Republicans quiet out of fear ‘they’re going to be taken down’ Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says that few Senate Republicans are willing to speak out against actions by the Trump administration and Elon Musk … Read more Sadly, Trump is right on Ukraine Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky provoked wider war by violating peace deals with Russia and seeking NATO military aid and membership, while … Read more  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Subscribe ...read more read less