Restart of Fighting in Gaza:
On March 19, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a series of significant air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. These strikes, which resulted in the loss of an estimated two hundred Palestinian lives, mark a crucial development in the ongoing conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that this was “only the beginning” underscores the gravity of the situation. The strikes, a strategic move to pressure Hamas into further peace negotiations and secure the release of the remaining sixty Israeli hostages taken on the October 7 attacks, have the potential to escalate the conflict significantly, raising concerns about the future of the region. Netanyahu’s assertion that any future peace talks or negotiations would “only take place under fire” further underscores the seriousness of the situation.
Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education:
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday instructing Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department. The order also attempts to circumvent the need to formally receive congressional approval to close the Federal Department due to legal matters. The Trump administration stated that it may need to “pursue congressional approval” to officially shut down the Department of Education in the foreseeable future.
President Trump has promised to shut down the Department of Education since the Campaign trial during his most recent run for office in the 2024 Presidential elections. He stated that “its budget had more than doubled in size in recent years, but national test scores had not improved.” The executive order may lead to cuts in department roles, such as the Federal student loan department, potentially affecting student services and the overall quality of education. This potential impact on education is a cause for concern. However, it’s important to note that most U.S. public schools rely primarily on Local and State funding more than federal funding, so it is unlikely to affect public schools severely. Nevertheless, this Executive Order has been expected for weeks within the Federal Government and the Department of Education. It will likely lead to the termination of over 4,000 federal employees working in the Department of Education.
Ukraine War Negotiations:
Over the past few weeks, following the tense conversation between President Trump and President Zelensky of Ukraine over the Ukrainian mineral rights deal, there has been some significant progression in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. These talks, brokered by the U.S. and President Zelensky signaling he is ready and willing to sign the Mineral rights agreement with the U.S., offer hope for a peaceful resolution. As there has been no direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, delegates from the U.S. met with their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia over the past week, leading to an agreement of a thirty-day halt in hostilities in the conflict agreed upon by Kerlimn. This led to a two-hour phone call between U.S. President Donald J Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin did not end up deciding to put a complete halt to fighting in Ukraine but agreed to stop attacks on the remaining Ukrainian power plants in the country. The overall hope of these talks and negotiations is to bring both sides to the negotiating table, allow for a halt in hostilities, and eventually end the conflict entirely.