House Republicans are attempting to move past the divisions that have marked their search for a new House Speaker, and will meet on Tuesday to narrow the field of eight candidates to one. The chosen candidate must secure at least 217 votes in order to win, and the outcome of Tuesday's meeting will determine whether the GOP can set aside their differences and move forward.
Posts tagged as “the Middle East”
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) spoke on NBC's "Meet The Press" about why he has not yet endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election, citing current issues such as the open Southern border and war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, aid convoys have been making their way into Gaza and the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Middle East to help defend Israel. Humanitarian groups have applauded the aid, but say it falls short of what is needed to help civilians on the ground.
The Middle East is facing escalating tensions due to the Israel-Hamas war, prompting the US to send additional air defense systems and redeploy the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. This morning, Israeli airstrikes targeted the international airports of Damascus and Aleppo in Syria, leading to the martyrdom of a civilian worker and the wounding of another. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has placed additional US forces on "prepare to deploy orders" in response to Iran and its proxy forces.
An aid convoy has been allowed to enter the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah, providing desperately needed aid to the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off two weeks ago. The situation in Gaza is dire, with UNRWA reporting that the region is running out of water and life, and the attack having a devastating impact on the health of the population. The UNRWA is calling for an immediate ceasefire and for the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the region.
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.
The U.S. has determined that a deadly blast at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was most likely caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Egypt has allowed limited humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, but it is unclear if it will be enough to prevent further casualties. Joe Biden is visiting Israel in hopes of preventing a wider conflict in the Middle East.
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.
President Joe Biden has arrived in Tel Aviv to demonstrate U.S. solidarity with Israel ahead of an expected ground assault against Hamas. During a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed sadness and outrage over a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City, suggesting Palestinian militants were behind it. Biden is expected to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during his trip, and his visit is seen as an effort to show U.S. support for Israel and to prevent the war from escalating.