“The government that I’m running cannot remain insensitive in front of this situation. There is no sacrifice that is too big for our country,” Henry said. “The government I’m running will remove itself immediately after the installation of the council.”
The leaders gathered to discuss the increasing violence in Haiti, where criminal gangs have seized control of a large part of the capital city, impacting international travel. Due to security concerns, Henry has been unable to return to Haiti and remains in Puerto Rico. However, the U.S. Territory’s Department of State indicated he plans to return once conditions allow.
A presidential council is poised to replace Henry, comprising two observers and seven voting members from various sectors, including political coalitions, the business community, civil society, and a religious leader. This council is tasked with appointing an interim prime minister swiftly; however, those planning to run in Haiti’s upcoming elections are ineligible to participate.
Since early 2023, Haiti has been without elected representatives, and the forthcoming elections will be the first since 2016. Many Haitians view Henry as corrupt, criticizing him for repeatedly delaying elections under the pretext of restoring security first.
Palestinian Authority gov’t resigns, many wonder what happens next
Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and his government tendered their resignations Monday, Feb. 26, leaving many pondering the next steps. The move comes under pressure from American and Middle Eastern leaders for the Palestinian Authority to reform its governance as conflict in Gaza and the West Bank escalates.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Feb. 7 to discuss changing the Palestinian Authority, hoping the group would be able to govern the Palestinian territories when the war ends.
Israeli leadership disagrees with the presumed goal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not accept Palestinian Authority rule over the territories. Netanyahu has also outright rejected a two-state solution.
Shtayyeh said he and the government were stepping down to help Palestinians determine their political future post-war. He said the next administration will have to consider the reality emerging in Gaza.
Currently, it’s estimated that 1.5 million Palestinians are living in homeless encampments in Rafah. These encampments are short on medical supplies, food and water, according to the Palestinian Health Authority.
“This decision comes based on the political, security and economic developments that are related to the offensive on our people in Gaza,” Shtayyeh said. “And the unprecedented escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and to what our people and Palestinian cause are facing, as well as our political system that had been aggressively attacked in an unprecedented manner, and based on the genocide, forced displacement and the starving of people in Gaza.”
Abbas accepted Shtayyeh’s resignation and made him a caretaker for the role while he seeks to find a replacement. Arab and Western governments have also discussed Abbas stepping down. Many Palestinians consider him and his administration to be corrupt and undemocratic, according to a poll conducted at the end of 2023. A timeline for replacing these officials is unclear.
There have been no new talks of holding new elections for Gaza or the West Bank. The last Gaza election was held in 2006 when Hamas won and took control of the enclave. There has not been another election since.
Fatah, the political party of the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas have repeatedly attempted to reach a unity agreement with each other over the years and have been unsuccessful. Now, the leaders of the groups are set to meet in Moscow on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Abbas is expected to appoint Mohammad Mustafa, chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund, as the next prime minister, according to the Times of Israel.
Michigan asks residents to help house, settle migrants
Michigan is encouraging residents to welcome migrants into their homes to help integrate them into society. Michigan, like many other states, is experiencing an influx of migrants traveling north from the southern border as they await asylum claims.
Shelters in Detroit are over capacity, leading to migrant transfers, which send migrants to hotels or other shelters with room. The city is directly asking residents to help ease the influx.
Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity Department explained how residents can help through a sponsorship program called “Welcome Corp.”
Sponsors would be asked to pick migrant families up from the airport, secure a place for the migrants to stay temporarily, enroll migrant children in a local school and help adults with employment opportunities. Volunteers must commit for at least 90 days.
The U.S. State Department launched the Welcome Corp in 2023. There are partnerships across Minnesota, Massachusetts and New York. The migrants that families sponsor come from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua or Venezuela.
“I’m confident if you join the Welcome Corp, you won’t just change the lives of the refugees you help, you’ll change your own lives as well,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of the group.
Residents are not required to help house migrants, however, similar requests are getting more common across the U.S. as crossings at the southern border increase.
“Expanded refugee resettlement pathways empower more Michiganders to support our state’s growing refugee population and build a more welcoming and inclusive Michigan for all,” Poppy Hernandez, Michigan’s chief equity and inclusion officer, said after news of the state’s volunteer request.
IDF says quarter of hostages dead; Hamas pushes 135-day cease-fire
As the Israeli military continues striking Gaza to eliminate Hamas terrorists and find Israeli hostages, Israeli intelligence officials believe a quarter of the remaining hostages have died in captivity. The Israel Defense Forces concludes at least 31 of the 136 remaining hostages from the Oct. 7 attack are now dead.
The IDF believes some of those hostages were killed in Israel during the Oct. 7 massacre and their bodies were taken to Gaza. During the massacre, Hamas militants took more than 240 hostages. More than 100 hostages have been released since the attack, with most releases taking place during November’s temporary cease-fire.
During the week of Feb. 4, mediators in Qatar and Egypt put forward a new cease-fire proposal, hoping to free any remaining hostages and bring an end to the war.
Hamas submitted its response, which Israel is reportedly looking over. According to Reuters, Hamas’ plan consists of a 135-day cease-fire with hostages freed in three phases. Each phase of the plan would last 45 days.
During the first phase, all Israeli female hostages, children under 19, and the elderly and sick, would all be released. In exchange, hundreds of female and underage Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails would be freed by Israel.
The second phase would initiate the release of all male Israeli hostages. In exchange, IDF soldiers must completely withdraw from Gaza.
During the final phase, all bodies and remains would be released. By the end of the 135-day cease-fire, Hamas expects the war to be done.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with Israeli leaders and mediators in the Middle East to help broker the deal.
“The hostages are foremost on our minds and in our hearts,” Blinken said while meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “And as you know, we now have a response from Hamas to the proposal that was put on the table. The way forward, we’re looking at it intensively, as is, I know the government of Israel and there’s a lot of work to be done, but we are very much focused on doing that work and hopefully being able to resume the release of hostages.”
Meanwhile, IDF soldiers are exposing more of a Hamas tunnel complex beneath Khan Younis. On X, the Israel Defense Forces posted a photo of a make-shift cell within a tunnel. The Israeli military said Hamas leaders hid and held hostages in the cell amid humid and smelly conditions, according to CNN.
The IDF believes at least 12 Israeli hostages were kept in that cell after the October attack based on DNA samples and witness testimony.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday, Feb. 7, that he told Blinken surrendering to Hamas would bring disaster and that Israel’s goal is complete victory over Hamas to secure Gaza and make sure it remains a safe area forever.
3 US soldiers killed in Jordan drone strike identified: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 30, 2024
The Defense Department identifies the three U.S. soldiers killed in a drone strike at a base in Jordan as officials investigate how the attack happened. And Elon Musk says his Neuralink startup has successfully implanted a computer chip into a human’s brain for the first time. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
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3 U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan drone strike identified
The identities of the three U.S. soldiers who were killed in an attack on a military base in Jordan on Sunday, Jan. 28, have been released as the investigation is revealing new details. The Defense Department said 46-year-old Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 23-year-old Spc. Breonna Moffett and 24-year-old Spc. Kennedy Sanders, all from Georgia, were killed by an unmanned aerial drone attack on the troops’ sleeping quarters in the early morning hours.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our three Army Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country in Jordan. Our prayers are with these loyal and courageous Soldiers’ families, friends, and the entire 718th Engineer Company – we honor their selfless…
The Biden administration blamed an Iranian-backed militia group for the attack, the first in which American soldiers have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Iran has denied it was behind the strike. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby echoed President Joe Biden’s comments a day earlier. Kriby said the U.S. would respond.
“We do not seek another war. We do not seek to escalate,” Kirby said. “But we will absolutely do what is required to protect ourselves, to continue that mission, and to respond appropriately to these attacks.”
All three soldiers who died were part of Operation Inherent Resolve, tasked with defeating ISIS in the region. The strike is believed to be the deadliest attack on U.S. service members since 13 Americans were killed in Afghanistan in 2021.
Six-week pause in war proposed for release of more hostages
Talks of another pause in the war between Israel and Hamas are in the early stages. Still, officials said the framework to deal is expected to be presented to Hamas that would see a six-week stoppage in fighting and the release of more hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
I met with @MBA_AlThani_ in Washington, DC, to discuss efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas. We are thankful for Qatar’s partnership and indispensable role in mediating. pic.twitter.com/ngdqwM5miY
The terms were drafted by representatives of the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt on Sunday, Jan. 28, in Paris. CIA Director William Burns was among those working on the plan that Qatar would present to Hamas officials, and they would then send back a response.
“We are hoping actually, to relay this proposal to Hamas and to get them to a place where they engage positively and constructively in the process.” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani said during an Atlantic Council webinar.
Officials told the New York Times the early framework called for Hamas to release elderly hostages as well as any remaining women and children during the pause in fighting. When asked on Monday, Jan. 29, about the plan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken replied, “The less said, the better.” He added the proposal on the table is a “compelling one” and “there is some real hope going forward.”
IRS contractor sentenced to 5 years for leaking Trump’s tax records
I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief I was serving the public interest.
Charles Edward Littlejohn
Prosecutors said Littlejohn leaked tax data to the New York Times and ProPublica between 2018 and 2020; prosecutors called the leaks “unparalleled in the IRS’s history” and argued that Littlejohn applied to be an IRS contractor to get Trump’s tax returns and figured out how to search for records without sounding alarms.
“I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief I was serving the public interest,” Littlejohn said.
Littlejohn was also fined $5,000 and will be under three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Judge Reyes said the crime was so extraordinary that the punishment must “deter others who might feel an obligation to break the law.”
Cyberattack targets government systems where Trump faces election interference charges
A cyberattack targeted Fulton County, Georgia, government systems, where former President Donald Trump faces election interference charges. According to a Fulton County official, the attack, which is being investigated by law enforcement, targeted devices that use county servers, including those used by District Attorney Fani Willis’ Office.
A county commissioner said there is no indication that any sensitive information about employees or citizens has been leaked, and there is no timeline for when the threat will end and when systems will be restored.
The attack comes as Willis faces filing deadlines in the election interference case against Trump. This week, Willis will be heard in front of a judge as to why she should not be disqualified from prosecuting the case following allegations that she had a relationship with the special prosecutor she hired to work on the Trump case.
Elon Musk says Neuralink has implanted computer chip in first human
Musk said initial results showed “promising neuron spike detection” but gave no further details on the procedure or the patient. In May of 2023, Neuralink announced it received approval from the FDA to conduct its first-in-human clinical study.
🧠 Elon Musk announced the first successful Neuralink brain chip implant in a human. Think about telling someone 10 years ago that by 2024, we'd be on the brink of unlocking telepathy…
In a follow-up post, Musk said the first Neuralink product called “telepathy” will enable the patient to use a phone or computer to control any device just by thinking. Musk said initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs.
Pilot believes he may have found Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane
Tony Romeo, a former Air Force intelligence officer, said he and his crew at Deep Sea Vision may have discovered the long-lost wreckage of Earhart’s twin-engine aircraft after scanning more than 5,200 square miles of ocean floor.
The $11 million expedition used an underwater drone to capture a sonar image resembling the shape of an airplane near Howland Island, halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Earhart was set to land on the island for refueling during her 1937 flight, in which she had hoped to be the first pilot to circumnavigate the globe.
Because the images are blurry, Romeo said his team will return to the site later this year to take clearer photos to confirm if it is indeed the long-lost plane.
As a party to the 1948 Genocide Convention, South Africa urged the ICJ for provisional measures, demanding an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza.
The allegations include the use of 6,000 bombs in the first week, with 2,000-pound bombs hitting safe areas and refugee camps.
South Africa is calling for Israel to refrain from actions violating the Convention, prevent mass expulsion, ensure humanitarian aid access, and safeguard Palestinian lives.
“The State of Israel must, in line with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide concerning the Palestinian People, a group protected by the Convention, refrain from committing acts outlined in Article 2 of the Convention,” said Vusimuzi Madonsela, the South African ambassador to the Netherlands.
The ICJ hearings are focusing on South Africa’s plea for emergency measures that challenge Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Both nations, parties to the Genocide Convention, define genocide as acts intending to destroy specific groups.
The ICJ sessions are set to continue with Israel presenting its case on Friday. The country will argue against South Africa’s claims of Israeli genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Addressing the court in The Hague, Friday Jan. 12, Israel’s attorney Gilad Noam said South Africa “has not shown any dispute between itself and the respondent at the time the application was submitted. Indeed, it tried to mislead the court into believing that one had existed.”
Following the conclusion of initial presentations by South Africa and Israel at the ICJ, justices must now determine if there are adequate grounds to approve South Africa’s request for provisional measures against Israel. The aim is to prevent further harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Blinken visits Israel to avert war from spreading in Middle East: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 9, 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel to continue his tour of the Middle East as he looks to prevent a broader war in the region. And more than 20 people are injured after an explosion at a hotel in Texas. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.
Blinken in Israel to avert broader war as Hezbollah commander killed
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel today, Jan. 9, meeting with top officials as he continues his tour of the Middle East to try to avert the war from spreading in the region. Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, Jan. 8, just as the Israeli military announced it was beginning to enter a new phase of its war against Hamas in Gaza, one with fewer troops and airstrikes.
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Before arriving in Israel, Blinken’s fourth trip to the region in three months saw him meeting with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, looking for support to avert a broader war. Shortly before Blinken’s arrival, Israel launched strikes into Southern Lebanon, killing a top commander of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Speaking to troops guarding the border of Northern Israel on Monday, Jan. 8, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was ready “to do whatever is necessary to restore security to the north.”
Blinken said during his meetings with Netanyahu, the war cabinet, and Israeli officials today, Jan. 9, he will discuss what he’s heard throughout his trip with the other nations’ leaders. He will also press Israel on protecting civilians in Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid to the territory.
United, Alaska Airlines find loose parts on 737 Max 9 planes
On Monday, Jan. 8, United said its preliminary checks found loose bolts on several panels; sources told Reuters that at least 10 of United’s Max 9 planes have been found to have this issue. Alaska Airlines also announced that its technicians found “loose hardware” on some of its planes. Federal investigators said late on Monday, Jan. 8, that they are looking into the possibility that the bolts to keep the panel in place were never installed before the piece blew off the Alaska Airlines flight.
Explosion at historic Texas hotel injures 21
An explosion at a historic hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, injured at least 21 people on Monday afternoon, Jan. 8. The explosion blew out windows and sent large sections of debris, including parts of doors and walls, all across the downtown streets. Investigators believe a gas leak was the cause of the blast at the 20-story Sandman Signature Hotel.
Five of those hurt suffered critical or serious injuries. Authorities said more than two dozen rooms were occupied at the time. Rescue crews found people trapped in the basement. Paula Snider, who witnessed it all, described what she saw.
“I heard the loudest boom I could ever hear,” Snider said. “And I looked up and underneath the awning at the Sandman Hotel, where the valet and parking lot is, was just a huge puff of black smoke, and I screamed, and then all of a sudden, when the smoke fades away, there’s just debris and metal and everything just flying everywhere.”
Driver in custody after crashing into White House gate
A driver was taken into custody on Monday evening, Jan. 8, after crashing into the gates of the White House. The Secret Service said a vehicle collided with an exterior gate around 6 p.m. Secret Service, D.C. police, and the fire department responded. The driver was apprehended at the scene, and no injuries were reported.
The collision caused traffic closures around the White House, which have since reopened. The Secret Service continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Tiger Woods, Nike announce end of 27-year partnership
Tiger Woods and Nike, a duo that has gone together for 27 years, is splitting up. In a social media post announcing the end of the partnership, Woods thanked Nike co-founder Phil Knight, citing his passion for the brand and for golf.
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods said. “The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever.”
Tiger originally signed with Nike in 1996 for $40 million. At the time, it was considered one of the biggest deals in sports, but Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, later called the deal “chump change.” Tiger won 15 major championships with the Swoosh on his chest, and his name became synonymous with Nike; in 2013, Tiger signed his latest deal with Nike, making an estimated $200 million. In his social post, Woods noted that there will certainly be another chapter.
Michigan wins College Football Playoff National Championship
Congratulations go out to Michigan, as the Wolverines are national champions. Michigan defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night, Jan. 8, in Houston. It’s the team’s first national championship since 1997.
This season, the undefeated Wolverines had to battle obstacles not only on the field but off – including a sign-stealing investigation and two suspensions for their head coach, Jim Harbaugh. Michigan’s victory also marks the end of the college football playoff format as we know it; next year, it expands to a 12-team playoff. Our Simone Del Rosario took a closer look at what the new format could mean for players and media outlets; read her report here.
Blinken visits Middle East amid fears of war spreading: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 5, 2024
The U.S. Secretary of State is set for another trip to the Middle East as recent developments prompt fears of the war spreading. And an Olympic athlete convicted of murdering his girlfriend has been released from prison. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024
Blinken to visit the Middle East amid fears of war growing in region
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to begin a diplomatic tour of the Middle East on Friday, Jan. 5, as tensions mount in the region amid fears the war between Israel and Hamas could grow into a broader conflict. Blinken’s fourth trip to the region in three months will see him visit nine locations, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the West Bank, and Egypt.
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In Israel, Blinken is expected to press for the increase of humanitarian aid in Gaza, a shift in the Israeli army’s operations, and efforts to release the hostages taken by Hamas, including Americans. U.S. officials said Blinken would also be looking for ally support to diffuse the situation in the Middle East before it escalates any further.
Blinken’s trip to the Middle East comes amid a series of developments in the region this week that have sparked concerns about the war spreading. A drone strike in Beirut on Tuesday, Jan. 2, killed a top Hamas leader, with Hamas, Lebanon, and U.S. officials attributing it to Israel.
The next day, more than 100 people were reportedly killed after explosions in Iran targeted a memorial service for the country’s former top general who was killed by a U.S. drone strike four years ago. On Thursday, Jan. 4, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A U.S. drone strike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq on Thursday, Jan. 4, killed its commander, who U.S. officials said had been involved in attacks on American personnel. On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the United States, along with a dozen other nations, issued a warning to Iran-backed Houthis to cease their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Hours later, the Pentagon said an armed unmanned surface vessel launched from the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen came within “a couple of miles” of U.S. Navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea before detonating.
NYC sues bus companies bringing thousands of migrants from Texas
According to the lawsuit, since the beginning of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, more than 33,000 migrants have been put on buses and sent to New York City, which is struggling to keep up with the financial burden of caring for the migrants.
“New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis, but we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone,” Mayor Adams said in a statement.
Gov. Abbott fired back and said the lawsuit is baseless and should be sanctioned.
“It’s clear that Mayor Adams knows nothing about the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution or about the constitutional right to travel that has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Abbott said.
The lawsuit cites a New York state law that requires anyone who brings a person in need to the state to support them at their own expense. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended the lawsuit brought by Mayor Adams.
Sixth grader killed, 5 others injured in Iowa school shooting
The suspect, a 17-year-old student at the school, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police added that the shooting unfolded on the first day back from winter break, during a breakfast program for middle and high school students. Investigators found improvised explosives at the school. They said the suspect was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun. A motive for the shooting is not yet known.
South African Olympian who killed his girlfriend released from prison
In 2013, the murder dominated headlines around the world, and Pistorius’ seven-month-long trial was televised. On Friday, Dec. 29, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections Services said that Pistorius was at home and would be under parole supervision until 2029. He is also required to go to rehabilitation programs and is banned from consuming alcohol and illegal substances.
After initially opposing his release, the Steenkamp family hoped releasing him would bring them some respite as the family faced intense scrutiny as the trial played out in court.
SpaceX sues labor agency after being accused of unlawfully firing employees
SpaceX filed a lawsuit on Thursday, Jan. 4, against a U.S. labor agency that had accused the company of unlawfully firing eight employees who wrote a letter to executives critical of CEO Elon Musk. A regional director for the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint about SpaceX’s actions following the employees’ letter in June of 2022 and said the company violated federal labor laws.
In their letter, the employees claimed that a series of Musk’s social media posts did not align with SpaceX’s diversity and workplace misconduct policies. The employees described Musk as “a distraction and embarrassment,” and they called on executives to condemn Musk’s behavior.
In addition to the firings, the agency’s complaint accuses SpaceX of interrogating other employees about the letter. In response to the complaint, SpaceX sued the labor agency, saying it is “unconstitutionally structured” and calling its actions “unlawful.”
Sweethearts releasing situationship boxes to target Gen Z
With Christmas and New Year’s behind us, most stores have already turned their attention to February and Valentine’s Day. One of the biggest candies for the holiday each year, conversation hearts, is switching things up to target Gen Z consumers and their not fully defined relationships, known as “situationships.“
Spangler, the company behind the Sweethearts candies and their romantic phrases of “love you” and “be mine,” said it will be introducing a limited-edition version of their heart-shaped treats that will have blurred, misprinted sayings that are “as hard to read as Gen Z relationships.”
The SweethearSituationship boxes will be available on the Sweetheart’s website starting Monday, Jan. 8.
Escalating tensions: Is the US prepared to go to war with Iran-backed Houthis?
Is the United States ready to declare war against Iranian-backed Houthi militants? Since launching Operation Prosperity Guardian in December, issues have intensified for the U.S. and its allies in the Red Sea.
Houthi rebels carried out another attack on Thursday, Jan. 4, employing an unmanned surface vessel to target U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.
The U.S. Navy’s Vice Adm. Brad Cooper stated that the attack, detonating within international shipping lanes, was clearly intended to cause harm. This incident follows a warning issued by the U.S. and 43 other countries to the Houthis, urging an immediate end to illegal attacks.
The Houthis — demonstrating solidarity with Hamas terrorists in their conflict with Israel — have launched over two dozen attacks on shipping and naval vessels in the Red Sea since November.
In late December, Houthi rebels unsuccessfully used speed boats and missiles to attack a ship operated by Danish shipping company Maersk. The U.S. Navy’s deployment of helicopters equipped with machine guns thwarted the attack, sinking three Houthi boats and killing 10 rebels.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, condemned the Houthi attacks as unacceptable, emphasizing the threat to commercial interests, ship crews, regional and global economies.
“The Houthi attacks are unacceptable,” Miller said. “And they threaten, not just the direct commercial interests that are involved, the ship and the crews on those ships, but also, the regional economy and the world economy. When you see attacks on commercial shipping, a great deal of which goes through the Red Sea, and a great deal of which has been diverted now to longer and more costly routes.”
Approximately 12% of global trade and 30% of the world’s container shipping pass through the Red Sea, prompting Maersk to indefinitely suspend operations in the region, redirecting ships around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.
This rerouting adds two to four weeks to round-trip voyages, leading to delays in delivering goods for spring and summer like clothing, patio furniture, and home and garden products. As a result, consumers can expect increased costs for goods. With Maersk’s redirection and the longer travel time, the recovery and reloading of ships in Asia will also be prolonged.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will embark on his fourth trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. Blinken will focus on de-escalating the conflict, freeing hostages held by Hamas, and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
How the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to sell Israel artillery
Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the sale of $147 million worth of 155 mm artillery shells and related components to Israel. The deal is not yet finalized, but if it goes through, it could include more than 57,000 high-explosive rounds, 30,000 M4 propelling charges and other ancillaries like fuzes, primers and charges.
The Biden administration did not receive approval from Congress to make this sale. How? By declaring that an emergency exists, waiving the requirement to notify the legislative branch under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act.
“[The president] says there is an emergency in the world that needs some arms transfers and if we don’t act immediately it will endanger the national interest of America,” retired Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., said. “And that’s what this president has done. It’s rare, but it is not unprecedented.”
If the Biden administration had not declared an emergency, it would have been required to inform Congress that it wants to make the sale and give lawmakers 30 days to respond. Congress would then have the option to pass a resolution saying it does not approve, otherwise, the administration can go through with it. Unless the resolution is passed with a two-thirds majority, it’s toothless because the president can veto it and move forward with the sale anyway.
“We certainly don’t have a very nimble Congress at the moment,” Sestak said. “So the ability to really be an effective mechanism is pretty low.”
Some Democrats are expressing disapproval of the Biden administration bypassing Congress.
Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
“Just as Congress has a crucial role to play in all matters of war and peace, Congress should have full visibility over the weapons we transfer to any other nation,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said. “Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark. We need a public explanation of the rationale behind this decision — the second such decision this month.”
“The war in Gaza has generated immense controversy and concern in the United States and around the world,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a statement. “The president should follow the established procedure of submitting his arms sales recommendations to Congress for prior approval.”
“The administration’s decision to repeatedly short-circuit what is already a quick time frame for congressional review undermines transparency and weakens accountability,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said in a statement. “The public deserves answers.”
Sestak said over decades, the president’s ability to act unilaterally has grown.
“Every single issue, even selling chips is now a national security issue, that the ability to act quickly has probably understandably moved the president’s ability to do things a bit more unilaterally,” Sestak said.