I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Would Block Arrests Based on ICC Warrants. On September 16, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced H.R.5411, which would prohibit state and local law enforcement from arresting foreign nationals in the United States based solely on “an indictment, warrant, or request issued by the International Criminal Court.” The bill comes in response to the pledge by Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani that if elected, he would order the New York City police to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city.
Sen. Merkley Introduces Legislation for US Recognition of a Palestinian State. On September 18, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced S.Res.410, a resolution calling on the United States to recognize a demilitarized Palestinian state. This is the first such legislation to be introduced in the Senate.
Congress Seeks to Bar Sanctioned Iranian Officials from Entering United States Ahead of UN Assembly.On September 18, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced S.2893, which would prohibit Iranian officials from entering the United States as representatives to the United Nations if they have been sanctioned for supporting, or for being appointed by, the Office of Iran’s Supreme Leader. On the same day, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced companion legislation (H.R.5495) in the House.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Largest Bipartisan Delegation Visits Israel. During the week of September 15, a delegation of 250 US state lawmakers visited Israel as part of a conference titled “50 States, One Israel.” The group, the largest delegation of US lawmakers ever to visit Israel, met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar, President Isaac Herzog, and Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana. Israeli officials used the event to press lawmakers to advance anti-BDS legislation in their home states, urging them to combat what Saar described as “a coordinated global effort…to eliminate the State of Israel.”
Sanders, Balint Call Israel’s Actions a Genocide. On September 17, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, becoming the first US senator to do so. On the same day, Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) also called Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide. Both lawmakers’ remarks came a day after a United Nations Commission of Inquiry released a report concluding that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Senate Republicans Call on European Foreign Ministers to Enforce Iran Sanctions. On September 17, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) led 49 other Senate Republicans in a letter to the British, French, and German governments thanking them for initiating so-called snapback sanctions on Iran. (“Snapback” refers to the reinstatement of UN sanctions that had been lifted under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.) The letter also called for sustained pressure until Iran’s nuclear program is permanently dismantled.
Lawmakers Meet with Syrian Foreign Minister. On September 19, SFRC Ranking Member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a bipartisan senatorial meeting with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad al-Shaibani to discuss US legislation to repeal the Caesar Act.
Republican Lawmakers Push Back Against Recognition of Palestinian State. On September 19, House Republican Leadership Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), along with 23 other Republican lawmakers, sent a letter to the governments of Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom urging them to walk back plans to recognize a Palestinian state. On September 21, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) said that “recognition of a ‘State of Palestine’ is empty virtue signaling that only rewards the Hamas butchers and rapists,” and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) criticized the “so-called civilized world” for “rewarding modern day religious Nazis with an arbitrary Palestinian state designation.”
3) Hearings and Briefings
House Foreign Affairs Committee Marks Up Department of State Reauthorization Bills. On September 17, HFAC) held a markup of legislation aimed at reorganizing and reforming the Department of State.
SFRC Advances Ambassador Nominees. On September 17, SFRC voted to advance 36 nominees out of committee, including:
- Michel Issa as ambassador to Lebanon,
- Richard Buchan as ambassador to Morocco,
- Bill Bazzi as ambassador to Tunisia,
- James Holtsnider as ambassador to Jordan,
- Stephanie Hallett as ambassador to Bahrain, and
- Benjamin Black to lead the International Development Finance Corporation.
On September 19, the full Senate confirmed Mike Waltz, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, as ambassador to the United Nations.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Says He Disagrees with UK on Palestinian State Recognition. On September 16, President Trump warned Hamas that it “will have hell to pay” if it uses hostages as human shields in Gaza City. On September 18, during his state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump said that he disagreed with the United Kingdom’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, and announced that he wants the United States to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
2) Department of State
Rubio Meets Israeli Officials to Discuss Gaza and Israel’s Security. On September 15, during a press conference in Israel with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Iran, Israel’s airstrike in Doha, the need to secure the release of hostages and to eliminate Hamas, and Qatar’s future role as a ceasefire mediator. Rubio described several US allies’ recognition of a Palestinian state as “an impediment to peace.” The same day, Rubio met with Israeli President Herzog to discuss the Abraham Accords and to reaffirm US-Israel relations.
Rubio Meets with Qatari Officials. On September 16 in Doha, Secretary Rubio met with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to reaffirm US-Qatar ties and to discuss regional security.
Department Designates Four Iraqi Militias as FTOs. On September 17, the Department of State designated four Iran-aligned militias in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, all of which had previously been listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and accused of carrying out or threatening to carry out attacks against US personnel and facilities.
US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza. On September 18, Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Morgan Ortagus vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and required Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid. The resolution also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas. Ortagus said that US opposition to the resolution “will come as no surprise” since it failed to condemn Hamas or to recognize Israel’s right to defend itself.
US Officials Meet with Syrian Foreign Minister. On September 19, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Special Envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack met with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs al-Shaibani to discuss Syria’s future, Israel-Syria relations, implementation of the March 2025 agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, counterterrorism, and mutual economic opportunities.
Huckabee Says United States Discussing Post-War Gaza Administration with Gulf States. On September 19, Reuters reported that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that the United States has held discussions with Gulf Arab states about the possibility of administering post-war Gaza, with the United States potentially playing a supervisory role.
Rubio Speaks with Saudi Foreign Minister. On September 21, Secretary Rubio spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss Syria, Sudan, and Gaza. Rubio also reinforced the US commitment to the security of Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
3) Department of War
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On September 13, US forces conducted airstrikes against an al-Shabab weapons dealer in Somalia.
United States, Saudi Arabia Conduct Largest Counter-Drone Exercise in the Middle East. On September 16, US and Saudi forces led the largest live-fire counter unmanned aerial system (UAS) exercise held in the Middle East. The exercise involved more than 300 personnel and featured 20 counter-UAS systems designed to detect, track, and eliminate drone threats. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper also met with Saudi Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman to discuss defense cooperation and regional developments.
US Forces Kill Senior Islamic State Member in Syria. On September 19, CENTCOM forces conducted a raid in Syria that killed a senior operative of the so-called Islamic State.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Financial Network Supporting Iran’s Military. On September 16, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two Iranian financial facilitators and more than a dozen entities and individuals based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for their roles in facilitating the sale of Iranian oil benefiting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
5) Department of Homeland Security
DHS Ends Temporary Protected Status for Syrians. On September 19, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Syrians in the United States, warning that Syrian nationals will be subject to arrest and deportation if they do not depart the United States within 60 days.
III. Judicial Branch
Immigration Judge Orders Mahmoud Khalil Deported to Syria or Algeria. On September 17, an immigration judge in Louisiana ordered that Mahmoud Khalil should be deported to Syria or Algeria for allegedly failing to disclose certain information on his green card application. The ruling comes after a New Jersey judge ruled on June 11 to block his deportation on foreign policy grounds.
