On February 4, President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. During a joint press conference, President Trump made headlines when he told reporters that the United States “will take over the Gaza Strip” and “own it.” Trump stated that the “only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is they have no alternative” and proposed resettling Palestinians elsewhere “permanently.” He clarified some of his comments two days later, posting on social media about his plan to have Israel “turn over” Gaza to the United States while reiterating his intention to have Palestinians resettled outside of the Strip during debris-clearing and rebuilding efforts. Trump did not indicate, however, if displaced Palestinians would be allowed to return, although Secretary of State Marco Rubio did suggest that Palestinians eventually may be able to “move back in.” Trump also stated, contrary to his announcement during the Netanyahu visit, that no US troops would be needed for the operation. For his part, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth commented that “we are a long way from any potential deployment.”
Administration officials spent much of the week trying to explain the president’s comments. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz pushed back against accusations that Trump was advocating for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza, contending that Trump “is looking at this from a humanitarian standpoint.” Likewise, White House Middle East Envoy Steven Witkoff stated that Trump’s plan is intended to support regional peace, declaring, “Peace in the region means a better life for the Palestinians. A better life is not necessarily tied to the physical space that you’re in today.”
On February 9, the president doubled down on his plans, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he is “committed to buying and owning Gaza” but would consider giving portions to Arab states to “build sections.” Then in an interview with Fox News aired on February 10, the president said that Palestinians could not return to Gaza after being resettled elsewhere.
Also Happening in Washington Last Week…
I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Reps. Lawler and Gottheimer Lead Anti-BDS Legislation. On January 31, Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced H.R.867, which would amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to have existing anti-boycott laws cover international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations. The original bill passed the 118th Congress.
Bicameral Legislation to Ban Federal Use of Term “West Bank” Reintroduced. On February 4, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced S.384, which would require all official US documents and materials to use “Judea and Samaria” instead of the “West Bank.” Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced companion legislation (H.R.902) in the House on January 31.
Rep. Omar Introduces Bill to Combat Islamophobia. On February 4, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced H.R.959, which would establish an office within the Department of State to monitor and combat Islamophobia.
Bicameral Resolutions Seek to Prevent a Nuclear Iran. On February 4, Representatives Lawler and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) introduced H.Res.105 condemning Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and affirming that “all options” must be considered to counter threats to the United States, Israel, and allies. Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) led bipartisan companion legislation in the Senate.
Awareness Act Reintroduced. On February 5, Representatives Gottheimer, Lawler, Moskowitz, and Max Miller (R-OH) reintroduced the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (H.R.1007), which would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. The bill previously passed the House in the 118th Congress by a vote of 320-91. On the same day, Representative Lawler and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) introduced H.R.1033, which directs the Department of Education to impose a third-party anti-Semitism monitor on any college or university receiving federal funding.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Congressional Leadership Meets with Netanyahu. On February 6, Senate and House leadership met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL), Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Ranking Member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and other senior lawmakers. Discussions focused on US support for Israel, the ceasefire and post-conflict governance in Gaza, stability in the West Bank, and the situations in Lebanon and Syria.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Issues National Security Memorandum on Iran. On February 3, President Trump issued a National Security Memorandum establishing that it is US policy to deny Iran a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles and to neutralize Iran’s regional influence. The memorandum directs US officials to re-establish the first Trump administration “maximum pressure” campaign targeting Iran’s economy, to lead efforts to isolate Iran diplomatically, and to protect the United States from Iranian threats.
Trump Announces US Withdrawal from Three UN Agencies. On February 4, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from and end US funding for the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Trump Sanctions the ICC. On February 6, President Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court for engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”
White House Sets “Red Line” on Hezbollah. On February 7, after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut, Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Morgan Ortagus said that the Trump administration has “set clear red lines” that Hezbollah must not be part of the Lebanese government going forward. She stated that “the end of Hizballah’s reign of terror in Lebanon and around the world has started.” Ortagus also said that the United States is “very committed” to Israel withdrawing its troops from Lebanon by February 18.
2) Department of State
Department Approves Military Sale to Egypt. On February 4, the Department of State approved a possible $929 million military sale to Egypt, including a $625 million modernization package for Egypt’s Fast Missile Craft and a $304 million sale of AN/TPS-78 long-range radar systems.
Department Approves Military Sale to Kuwait. On February 6, the Department of State approved a possible sale of military-related design and construction services to Kuwait for an estimated cost of $1 billion.
Department Approves Billions in Arms for Israel. On February 7, the Department of State approved a possible military sale to Israel of Munitions, Guidance Kits, Fuses, and Munitions Support and related equipment for an estimated cost of $6.75 billion. The Department also approved a possible sale of AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $660 million. Reacting to the announcement, HFAC Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) criticized the Trump administration for purportedly abrogating congressional oversight with the sales, as on February 4 Congress had reportedly placed a hold on a $1 billion arms sale to Israel.
3) Department of Defense
US Forces Participate in Operations in Iraq. On January 31, Iraqi Security Forces, enabled by CENTCOM, conducted airstrikes near Kirkuk, Iraq, reportedly killing five operatives of the so-called Islamic State (IS).
Defense Officials Discuss Defeat-ISIS Campaign in Bahrain. On February 1-2, CENTCOM officials participated in the Combined Force Commanders’ Conference in Bahrain on the Defeat-ISIS campaign. At the conference, the campaign’s chiefs of joint operations discussed efforts to combat IS, the evolving situation in Syria, the ceasefire agreements in Lebanon and Gaza, and updates on Yemen’s Houthis and Red Sea security.
CENTCOM Commander Visits United Arab Emirates. On February 3-4, USCENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla met with Emirati defense officials to discuss regional security issues and the US-United Arab Emirates defense partnership.
Secretary Hegseth Meets Netanyahu. On February 5, Secretary Hegseth met with Netanyahu at the Pentagon.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Network Facilitating Iranian Oil Shipments to China. On February 6, the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned an international network involved in shipping millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil to China on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its sanctioned front company, Sepehr Energy.
5) United States Agency for International Development
The Dismantling of USAID Continues. On February 3, the White House released a statement saying that the “waste, fraud, and abuse [at USAID] ENDS NOW.” With the statement, President Trump appointed Secretary Marco Rubio as Acting Administrator of the agency “as an interim step toward gaining control and better understanding over the agency’s activity.” Shortly after, the USAID website, which had been taken offline, came live to note that all USAID direct hire personnel would be placed on administrative leave. HFAC Chair Mast and SFRC Chair Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) expressed support for the Trump administration’s restructuring of US foreign assistance programs. Going a step further, Reps. Gregory Steube (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced legislation (H.R.1029 and H.R.1123) on February 5 and February 7, respectively, to abolish USAID altogether.
Democrats offered significant pushback to the developments in the form of letters, joint statements, and legislation to reaffirm support for the agency. On February 7, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee announced that they were launching an inquiry into the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate the agency. Late that evening, a federal judge temporarily halted some of the Trump administration’s moves to shrink or eliminate USAID.
III. Judicial Branch
DOJ Forms Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism on College Campuses. On February 3, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the formation of a multiagency task force to “root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses.” The DOJ’s announcement also follows news that the Department of Education is launching related investigations into Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, Portland State University, Northwestern University, and University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. On February 5, Attorney General Pam Bondi established Joint Task Force October 7, which will investigate “the ongoing threat posed by Hamas and its affiliates” in addition to “antisemitic acts of terrorism and civil rights violations in the homeland,” particularly on college campuses.
