President Biden has urged Israelis to avoid repeating the mistakes the United States made following the 9/11 attacks in their response to the Hamas attacks, while condemning the incident and calling for an immediate ceasefire. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation and for both sides to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. The United States has committed to working with both sides to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
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Hundreds of protesters gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to call for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Jewish-led activist group organized the peaceful demonstration, demanding that the Biden administration and lawmakers take action to end the conflict. The Capitol Police warned the demonstrators to stop demonstrating and when they refused, they were removed from the building.
At least 200 people were killed in an explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, with the US assessing that it was likely caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The incident has been met with shock and sorrow from around the world, with the UN calling for an independent investigation and the US urging both sides to de-escalate the conflict.
President Joe Biden will address the nation on Thursday night from the Oval Office to discuss the U.S. response to the recent Hamas attacks against Israel and Russia's war in Ukraine. Biden has already traveled to Israel to show support for the key U.S. ally, and his speech will be the first major foreign policy address of his presidency. No further details have been released, but the speech is expected to be an important moment for the Biden administration.
The FDA is proposing a ban on hair-smoothing and hair-straightening products containing formaldehyde due to potential health impacts, including an increased risk of certain cancers. This proposed ban is in response to pressure from Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Shontel Brown, and hundreds of Black people filing lawsuits against big-name beauty and cosmetic retailers. The FDA is currently seeking public comment on the issue, which will be open for the next 60 days before a final decision is made.
A woman was taken into custody Wednesday after attempting to approach former President Donald Trump during his civil fraud trial in New York City. The trial is part of a $250 million civil action brought against the former president by the New York Attorney General, and Trump has already been found liable for fraud. The woman was taken into custody and it is unknown if she will face any charges for her attempt to speak to Trump.
House Republicans have failed to elect a permanent speaker for the second time, with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) falling short of the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. Some Republicans are now looking to expand the powers of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) in order to break the deadlock, but it remains unclear if this will be enough to elect a new speaker. The House has been leaderless since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stepped down in October, and it is unclear how long it will take for the chamber to elect a new speaker.
The House of Representatives is voting for the next Speaker after Kevin McCarthy failed to win more than 218 votes on three ballots. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio has failed to garner the necessary support to become the next Speaker of the House, losing 20 Republicans on the first ballot and requiring a third ballot if those who voted against him do not change their minds. Jordan has flipped one of his holdouts, but it is unclear if he will be able to win the necessary support to become the next Speaker.