☕ Will the US 'take over' Gaza?

It’s Wednesday.

Analysts are trying to put together the implications of the surprise announcements from President Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, with Trump floating a plan to ‘take over’ the Gaza Strip. We break down what you need to know in today’s edition.

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Some headlines from this morning:

🗳️ Tulsi Gabbard and Robert Kennedy Jr. have cleared a key Senate vetting hurdle for top government jobs, while Pam Bondi gained Senate confirmation as the new Attorney-General. The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9-8 in favor of Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, while the Senate voted 14-13 in favor of Kennedy for Secretary of Health. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, an ex-doctor who appeared deeply concerned about Kennedy’s nomination last week, cast the deciding vote for RFK. The final vote for both candidates has not been scheduled yet but is expected next week.

💰 The CIA has sent ‘buyout’ offers to its entire workforce, becoming the first major security agency to respond to President Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce. Under the terms of the offer, CIA employees will be eligible for roughly eight months of pay and benefits should they elect to resign. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has put most USAID staff on leave, and recalled overseas workers, in similar efforts.

🏛️ Two groups of unidentified FBI agents have filed lawsuits seeking to block the Trump administration from releasing the names of individuals involved in the January 6 riot investigations. The administration has not threatened to release the names, instead the legal action responds to a recent request from the deputy attorney general for the names of all staff involved in the investigation. The lawsuit estimates this group could number 6,000 and fears for their safety and jobs. President Trump has been taking rapid action against those involved in the investigation, most recently firing prosecutors working on cases involving President Trump and the Jan. 6 rioters.

🇬🇷 The Greek island of Santorini has been hit by repeated tremors which have continued to occur every few hours for the past three days. Over 200 tremors, the largest being 5.1 in magnitude (moderate, causing only minor damage), have sent tourists and locals who fear a larger event scrambling to escape but the government is calling for calm. Santorini is located on the Hellanic Volcanic Arc and the tremors generate fears of a massive eruption, but experts have said the shakes are tectonic, not volcanic, and that they are continuing to monitor the situation.

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Around 10 people, including a suspected gunman, have been killed in the deadliest shooting in Sweden’s history.

A gunman is alleged to have opened fire at an adult education campus in the city of Örebro, 200km west of Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: “It is a very painful day for all of Sweden.” Authorities are investigating the motive behind the school shooting.

What happened

Around 12.30pm (local time), a gunman entered the Risbergska campus in Örebro and opened fire with a rifle.

Footage and photos shared on social media appear to show students fleeing the campus and hiding under desks.

At least 10 people, including the suspected shooter, have died. However, police told reporters they can’t confirm an exact figure due to the amount of people being treated in hospital for serious injuries.

Police initially said they had launched a murder, arson, and aggravated weapons investigation.

Örebro police chief Roberto Eid Forest said the shooting did not appear to be terror-motivated.

Mass shootings are rare in Sweden, as the country has tight restrictions on firearm ownership.

However, experts have warned about a surge in gun violence over recent years, driven in part by growing gang tensions.

Reactions

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson posted on social media, saying a “normal school day was replaced with terror”.

“Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience,” Kristersson said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the shooting as “truly horrifying”.

“Such violence and terror have no place in our societies — least of all in schools.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become the first foreign leader to meet with the President since his second term began. Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday and his White House meeting has been highly anticipated as a frail peace holds in Israel and Palestine and the second phase of a ceasefire deal is being negotiated as of yesterday. In a press conference after the meeting, President Trump announced plans for an American “take over” in the Gaza Strip. Here’s what you need to know.

Background to the visit

Hamas, which the US lists as a terrorist organisation, launched an attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing at least 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas and bombarding Gaza, causing a humanitarian crisis that has displaced at least 90% of the population. At least 46,600 Palestinians have been killed in the past 15 months, according to data cited by the UN.

A six week ceasefire deal was agreed in January as phase one of a three stage process intended to reach a permanent truce. Since the ceasefire deal, peace has held but it is very fragile, with an Israeli aircraft firing toward a vehicle in Gaza as recently as Sunday. Phase one will conclude on 18 February, by which time negotiators hope a stage two will be agreed upon.

Joint announcement

After the meeting, President Trump announced plans for an American “take over” in the Gaza Strip, which would move some 1.9 million Palestinians to other countries. The President proposed people in Gaza “go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts,” with costs to be absorbed by what he called neighbouring regions “of great wealth”. Trump also referred to turning Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East”, which would be developed over the “long-term ownership” of the region by the US.

Trump also announced the U.S. would withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council, and end all funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. He promised to reintroduce tough restrictions on Iranian oil exports, to “stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

His comments marked a diversion from the long-term position of the US in emphasizing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

What’s next?

Negotiations for a second stage of a ceasefire are expected continue as the ceasefire holds and Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages are released in line with its terms.

President Trump has not released any further details of his proposal to occupy Gaza but the idea has been widely criticised. Trump claimed today the idea has been praised by the “highest of leadership”.