I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Senate Bill Would Block Arrests Based on ICC Warrants. On September 29, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced S.2935, 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.” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced companion legislation (H.R.5411) in the House in September.
Bipartisan Bill Would Expedite Transfer of Seized Iranian Arms. On September 30, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced H.R.5623, which would quicken the transfer to US partners of Iranian weapons seized by the United States in transit to the Houthis and other groups. Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) previously introduced companion legislation (S.2642) to the Senate in August.
House Resolution Raises Concerns over Coptic Christians in Egypt. On September 30, Rep. French Hill (R-AR) introduced H.Res.776, expressing concern over threats facing Coptic Christians in Egypt and urging the Egyptian government to ensure their equal rights and protection.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Lawmakers Welcome Trump’s Gaza Plan, Urge Commitments from Both Sides. Bipartisan lawmakers welcomed President Donald Trump’s latest proposal to end the war on Gaza, following its acceptance by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29.
Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said she was pleased that Netanyahu accepted the proposal. Shaheen urged Israel to “faithfully implement” the plan and called on Hamas to also accept it. Ahead of Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump, Senate Democrats urged the president to press Netanyahu to accept the deal, noting that the meeting “comes at a critical time for the West Bank amid Prime Minister Netanyahu’s irresponsible threats of potential annexation and prevention of a future Palestinian state as a part of a negotiated two-state solution.” House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) also welcomed the plan, stating that it “importantly…envisions a two-state solution that reunites Gaza and the West Bank — with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.”
Republicans likewise expressed support. SFRC chair Jim Risch (R-ID) praised the proposal, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that he hopes Hamas will accept it and added, “as to a new Middle East that embraces normalization between Israel and the region, I also hope that day will come. However, it is not possible for the Middle East to be normalized until Hezbollah is taken off the table.”
Democrats Urge Department of State to Resume Gaza Medical and Humanitarian Visas. On September 29, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) led 41 Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern over the Department of State’s August 2025 decision to suspend temporary medical and humanitarian visas for Gaza civilians needing urgent care. They urged the department to resume issuing the visas and requested an explanation of its decision to restrict nonimmigrant visas for Palestinian passport holders.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Netanyahu Backs Trump’s Gaza Plan; Trump Pledges to Protect Qatar. On September 29, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu announced at a joint press conference that Israel would sign onto the White House’s 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. Several countries also expressed support for the proposal.
At the press conference, Trump said that Israel will have his “full backing” to destroy Hamas if it rejects the plan. Netanyahu said that if Hamas accepts the plan, Israel will conduct “withdrawals linked to the extent of disarmament and demilitarization, but will remain in the security perimeter for the foreseeable future.” On Palestinian statehood, Trump said that Netanyahu “was very clear about his opposition to a Palestinian state. And he continuously mentions October 7th, and I understand that.”
Earlier that day, Trump held a trilateral phone call with Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Netanyahu expressed regret that Israel’s missile strike on Hamas targets in Qatar had unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman and that the attack had violated Qatari sovereignty. The leaders agreed to establish a “trilateral mechanism” to improve cooperation and communication. Trump also signed an executive order that recognizes the “enduring alliance” between the United States and Qatar and provides Doha with a security guarantee in the event of an “external attack,” which includes US military retaliation if necessary.
On September 30, Trump stated that he would give Hamas three to four days to respond to his Gaza plan, warning that rejection would lead to a “sad end.”
Trump Tells Israel to Stop Bombing Gaza Following Hamas Response. On October 3, following Hamas’s response to his proposal, Trump said that “this is a big day. We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down in concrete.” Trump wrote on Truth Social that he believes Hamas is ready for a “lasting PEACE” and that “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly.” The next day, Trump said that he “will not tolerate delay” in the release of hostages “or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again” and announced that Israel agreed to the initial withdrawal line (the so-called “yellow line”) outlined in his proposed plan. That same day, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner traveled to Egypt to finalize the details of a hostage release deal.
2) Department of State
Rubio Speaks with French Foreign Minister. On September 30, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to discuss the release of hostages held by Hamas, Trump’s Gaza plan, and Iran.
Department Imposes Additional Iran Sanctions. On October 1, the Department of State sanctioned five individuals and one entity involved in Iran’s nuclear program.
Rubio Says Gaza Talks “Not Yet” the End of the War. On October 5, Secretary Rubio said that the war in Gaza has not yet ended, adding that “we will know very quickly whether Hamas is serious or not by how these technical talks go in terms of the logistics.” He stated that the first priority is the release of all hostages in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal to the yellow line. Rubio described the second phase of the plan—the disarmament and demobilization of Hamas and the establishment of Palestinian technocratic leadership in Gaza— as “even harder.”
3) Department of War
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On September 26, US forces conducted an airstrike against the so-called Islamic State in Somalia.
United States Reduces Military Mission in Iraq. On September 30, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced that the United States will reduce its military mission in Iraq, citing successes in fighting the so-called Islamic State. The move follows an agreement signed with the Iraqi government one year ago.
United States Approves $230 Million for Lebanon. On October 2, Reuters reported that the Trump administration had approved $230 million in funding for Lebanon’s security forces, including $190 million for the Lebanese Armed Forces and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces, in support of efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Iranian Weapons Procurement Networks. On October 1, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 21 entities and 17 individuals for involvement in supplying goods and technology used in Iran’s missile and military aircraft production.
III. Judicial Branch
Judge Rules Trump Effort to Deport Pro-Palestine Students Unconstitutional. On September 30, a federal judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke visas and deport international students who participated in pro-Palestine campus activity was unconstitutional, finding that it chilled free speech on campuses in violation of the First Amendment.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against UNRWA. On October 1, a federal judge in New York dismissed a lawsuit against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that accused the agency of providing more than $1 billion that enabled Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. The judge ruled that, as part of the United Nations, UNRWA is immune from such lawsuits.
