The Sunday Subject – February 4, 2024

Three American soldiers were killed and 40 others wounded in a strike on a military base in Jordan.

Kataib Hizbullah, an Iraqi militia backed by Iran, is believed to have been responsible. Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised a response that “could be multi-leveled, come in stages, and be sustained over time.”Republicans have demanded more harsh retribution against Iran and its proxies.

American, Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari negotiators met in Paris to discuss the framework for a humanitarian pause in Gaza.

It would allow for the exchange of Israeli hostages in Gaza with Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Binyamin Netanyahu said he would not accept a deal that required Israeli troops to leave Gaza permanently without a “total victory” over Hamas. Israel’s military campaign to eradicate Hamas has destroyed much of Gaza, killed almost 27,000 Palestinians (including fighters), and displaced approximately two million people.

The Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland announced its return to the power-sharing executive that it left two years ago.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson agreed to a deal with Westminster that will reduce checks and paperwork on goods coming from the British mainland. The Brexit-imposed Irish sea border, however, still remains (in a lesser capacity).

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