Dissecting the threat of an escalating Israel-Hamas war

Plus, using AI to screen for immigration fraud and Ford's re-election worries [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on war in the Middle East, immigration officials’ use of AI and Doug Ford’s Greenbelt reckoning. DON’T MISS Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images middle east [The threat of an escalating Israeli-Hamas war ]( Observers of the Middle East say Israel faces the risk of an escalating war, Allan Woods reports, with the possibility of Iranian-backed militant groups in neighbouring Lebanon and Syria joining forces with Hamas. Cross-border attacks on Israel Wednesday were claimed by Hezbollah, while missiles were being fired from Syrian territory on Tuesday, according to an Israel Defence Forces spokesperson. [Here’s how the war could further unravel](. - Meanwhile: Canada will airlift citizens from Tel Aviv as early as Thursday. [Here’s what we know](. - Go deeper: This is what we know about [Canadians in Israel who are dead or missing](. - On the ground: [Palestinians are rushing to buy food and struggling under strikes]( as Israel readies a possible ground operation. - On the home front: [MPP Sarah Jama has apologized for her comments on the Israel-Hamas controversy]( as the NDP leader rejects calls to expel her. Nico El Nino/Getty Images immigration [Canada is using AI to catch immigration fraud — and some say that’s a problem]( A new artificial intelligence tool is being used to screen prospective international students and visitors to Canada, Nicholas Keung reports, searching data sets of applications for clues of “risk and fraud patterns.” Some experts are concerned it will reinforce biases and even reject some legitimate applicants. [Here’s how the technology works](. - More: Immigration officials say the AI tool helps them determine who may be trying to play Canada’s system. They insist that human beings are the ones making the final decisions. - By the numbers: The Integrity Trends Analysis Tool (ITAT) was rolled out in January. It has mined the data set of 1.4 million study-permit applications and 2.9 million visitor applications. Canadian Press/Tara Walton ontario politics [Tory insiders fear the RCMP’s Greenbelt probe could hinder Doug Ford’s next re-election campaign]( The branch of the RCMP that probes corruption and political crime is now investigating the decision of Doug Ford’s government to open up the Greenbelt for development. While the Tories are insisting publicly that they didn’t break the law, behind closed doors they’re concerned about the Mounties now having control of the narrative, Robert Benzie reports. [Take a closer look at why the Ford government felt it dodged the worst of the Greenbelt scandal and how that could change](. - Wait, what? The next provincial election is set for June 2026. “A two-year investigation takes it right into the (election) cycle,” said a Tory speaking confidentially to discuss internal deliberations. - Watch for: There are growing concerns that the auditor general is now looking into minister’s zoning orders. The Tories often use MZOs to rush through development by overriding local planning. WHAT ELSE Jagmeet Singh’s NDP are taking votes away from Justin Trudeau — but losing support to Pierre Poilievre. [Take a closer look at this poll](. Canadians say Pierre Poilievre would handle a return of Donald Trump better than Justin Trudeau. [Here’s what else this poll found](. Toronto can’t afford a subway stop for this booming neighbourhood. [The local councillor wants Doug Ford to step in](. A third complainant has told the Peter Nygard trial that a [party crowd watched as the former fashion mogul sexually assaulted her](. York Region is announcing nightly road closures to [allow endangered salamanders to cross safely](. The digging machine trapped at Old Mill is free at last — [after a multimillion-dollar rescue mission](. A report predicts Toronto area home prices will surge next quarter despite a “frozen” market. [Here’s how much they might rise](. Pandemic buyers are struggling to unload cottages — [some are slashing prices by as much as $200,000](. This Toronto restaurant bans kids under 10. [Is that even allowed?]( [American politics is broken — and Canada should be worried](. POV Mary Altaffer/Associated Press [The NHL is proving the “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign was a lie.]( CLOSE-UP Mohammed Abed/AFP GAZA: A member of the Palestinian security forces carries a child, wounded by Israeli airstrikes, into Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday. The attacks launched by Israel and Hamas have already killed thousands. [Here’s what you need to know on the sixth day of war](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_201520). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](