Israel keeps pounding Gaza, pressure grows for ceasefire as conflict enters second week

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 Good morning, NBC News readers.     Today we look at growing pressure for a ceasefire as the Israel-Gaza conflict enters its second week and the latest on military operations there, plus why President Joe Biden needs to worry about the price of lumber.   Here's the latest on that and everything else we're watching this Monday morning. No sign of Israel, Gaza violence abating amid calls for end to bloodshed The Israeli military continued to pound the Gaza strip early Monday, a day after dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli air raids and amid growing international calls for an end to the bloodshed.   Hamas also pressed on launching rockets at southern Israeli cities in the early hours.   There were no official reports of the number of casualties from the latest strikes after 42 Palestinians were killed in a series of air raids Sunday — the deadliest day yet in the escalating violence between Israel and the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza.   The latest confirmed figures put the death toll in Gaza at 197, including 58 children and 34 women, while ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children, according to health authorities on both sides.   The United Nations Security Council convened Sunday to discuss the crisis. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the violence was "appalling" and had wrought "unconscionable death" and immense suffering.   "Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately," he said.   Read the latest on this fast-moving situation here.   Also over the weekend, press freedom advocates condemned Israel's airstrike Saturday on a Gaza building that housed offices of foreign media, including The Associated Press and Al-Jazeera.   And have you been wondering how this conflict began? Our explainer spells out how tensions in the region had been simmering for over a month.  Monday's day's top stories Should Joe Biden worry about soaring lumber prices? By Alex Seitz-Wald and Jonathan Allen | Read more  Skyrocketing prices of lumber and other commodities could be a troubling sign for the post-pandemic economic boom President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats are counting on.   Olympian Raven Saunders looks toward Tokyo, with a focus on mental health By Julianne McShane | Read more After hitting new heights in Rio, the shot-putter hit a serious low. She and other athletes preparing for the Summer Games are hoping to make their well-being a priority. A 'vaccine hustler' and a 'superhero': How two women are getting vaccinations out in the U.S. By Erika Edwards | Read more Patience, time and persistence are the best ways to allay vaccine fears, according to two people on the front line of addressing people's concerns. OPINION Cicadas emerging now from their 17-year slumber have a lot to teach us about time By Judi Ketteler  | Read more They're loud but brilliant, particularly for their ability to be mini-time capsules that push through the soil and remind us of earlier versions of ourselves. BETTER 3 people share how a walking routine helped them lose weight — and feel happier By Julie Compton | Read more Walking is an accessible way to lose weight and maintain your mental health. Here's how to make it a part of your daily routine. Want to receive the Morning Rundown in your inbox? Sign up here. Also in the news ... 'Suspicious' brushfire in Los Angeles grows to more than 1,300 acres Bitcoin price drops sharply after Musk teases selling Fauci says pandemic exposed 'undeniable effects of racism' LGBTQ students harassed in 'horrific' incident at Bucknell University, school says 3 bodies and man who dumped them at New Mexico hospital tied to Aryan Brotherhood, FBI says Cheney says McCarthy and Stefanik are complicit in Trump's election falsehoods SHOPPING A fresh garden doesn't have to be outside — we asked experts how these indoor garden systems can help you grow herbs and produce right from your kitchen. One fun thing Unable to resist the urge to wave at the end of Zoom calls? You're not alone.   Yet psychologists and body language experts agree: Waving at the end of video calls is a good thing — an indication that just because we have been socially distanced for the last 14 months does not mean we have become socially inept.   Read the story here. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: patrick.smith@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Patrick Smith Download the NBC News App Follow NBC News Privacy | Unsubscribe | More NBC Newsletters | Contact View in browser