Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here.
A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
The Israeli strikes on Gaza today killed 404 people, wounded 562, and left dozens buried under rubble, the deadliest attack since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas began in late January, the Hamas-run health ministry said. According to an Israeli official, the “series of preemptive strikes” targeted Hamas leaders and infrastructure. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the strikes were launched due to a “dead end” in ceasefire talks to release more hostages. The Israeli military said it issued evacuation orders for neighborhoods in Gaza, suggesting the offensive, which fell short of an immediate ground invasion, could become a sustained campaign. The Washington Post reports; Patrick Kingsley reports for the New York Times.
Hamas today accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement, with a senior official saying Israel’s strikes were essentially a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages in the enclave. Nidal Al-Mugrhabi, Enas Alashray, and James Mackenzie report for Reuters; Jennifer Jett reports for NBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Justice Department yesterday announced the formation of a task force to investigate Hamas for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, as well as “civil rights violations by individuals and entities providing support and financing to Hamas, related Iran proxies, and their affiliates, as well as acts of antisemitism by these groups.” The “Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7)” will focus on investigating and charging Hamas members directly responsible for the attacks in southern Israel, the department said. Eric Tucker reports for the Associated Press.
SYRIA
The defense ministers of Syria and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire following cross-border attacks that left 10 dead and over 50 injured, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported yesterday. The officials also committed to enhancing bilateral coordination and cooperation, amid rising tensions between Beirut and Syria’s newly formed Islamist-led government. Nadeen Ebrahim and Charbel Mallo report for CNN.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
President Trump yesterday said that the United States will view any further attacks by the Houthis in Yemen as originating from Iran and warned Tehran of “dire consequences.” Trump also threatened that any further retaliation by the Houthis will be “met with great force,” after the rebel group’s Sunday attack on the USS Truman Red Sea strike group. The Pentagon confirmed the attacks but said no damages were caused. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Mexican authorities have announced the arrest and deportation of Francisco Javier Román-Bardales, a suspected MS-13 leader listed among the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives. Daniela Patiño and Marlon Sorto report for CNN.
Chinese state media has praised Trump’s decision to cut public funding for news outlets Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, known for reporting on authoritarian governments. Separately, the Czech Republic has appealed for EU support to keep global broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty running after the Trump administration cut its funding. Kelly Ng reports for BBC News; Laurence Peter reports.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Trump will speak with President Vladimir Putin today in a bid to convince the Russian leader to accept a ceasefire and progress toward a more permanent end to the three-year war. Jeff Mason reports for Reuters.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
The acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Andrea Lucas, yesterday sent letters to 20 law firms, requesting information relating to their diversity, equity, and inclusion-related employment practices. Prominent firms that received the request include Perkins Coie, Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis, and Sidley Austin. Madeleine Ngo reports for the New York Times.
Trump yesterday asserted the preemptive pardons that former President Biden issued to protect family members and U.S. officials who had investigated Trump are void, claiming that Biden signed them with an autopen with no knowledge or approval of the pardons. Separately, Trump announced that Hunter Biden and his half-sister Ashley Biden will be stripped of their Secret Service protection. Jess Bravin reports for the Wall Street Journal; Danny Nguyen reports for POLITICO.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reinstating 132 employees dismissed last month, following a federal judge’s order in Maryland, a union announced yesterday. The probationary employees, terminated as part of DOGE-led cuts, will receive back pay and are expected to resume duty on March 20. David Shepardson reports for Reuters.
Trump announced he will today release 80,000 pages of unredacted files about the assassination of President Kennedy. Alex Gangitano reports for The Hill.
Trump yesterday named a list of close allies, controversial figures, and loyalists from his first administration to boards overseeing the nation’s Naval, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard academies. The personal appointments include Michael Flynn, Charlie Kirk, and Steve Bannon’s daughter. Seb Starcevic reports for POLITICO.
The Trump administration is planning to cut over 20% of the staff at the taxpayer help branch of the IRS, removing jobs aimed at helping those dealing with identity theft, tax issues, or financial struggles, according to a document obtained by the Washington Post. Shannon Najmabadi and Jacob Bogage report.
The Department of Health and Human Services recently removed a former surgeon general’s warning labeling gun violence as a public health crisis to comply with Trump’s executive order protecting Second Amendment rights, a White House official said. Amanda Friedman reports for POLITICO.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The D.C. attorney general’s office has dropped a civil liability lawsuit against the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, saying in a court filing that the city was unlikely to recover sufficient money to justify continuing legal action. Ellie Silverman reports for the Washington Post.
The acting top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C, Ed Martin, yesterday announced the creation of a new special unit to investigate election fraud, according to an email seen by Reuters. Sarah N. Lynch reports.
DOGE said its staffers and acting U.S. Institute of Peace president Kenneth Jackson entered U.S. Institute of Peace’s D.C. headquarters with a police escort yesterday. Amid an apparent standoff, DOGE said that George Moose, who was reportedly fired from his role as acting USIP president, had “denied lawful access” to Jackson. Rebecca Falconer reports for Axios.
The Social Security Administration is considering a new anti-fraud measure that would require millions of claimants to file benefit claims at field offices instead of by phone, according to an internal memo. The memo suggests the change could cause operational disruptions and create particular challenges for elderly and disabled taxpayers. Lisa Rein reports for the Washington Post.
Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink is now available across the White House complex. Trump administration officials said the company donated the service, confirming that the gift was reviewed and approved by the White House Counsel’s Office ethics lawyer. Maggie Haberman, Kate Conger, Eileen Sullivan, and Ryan Mac report for the New York Times.
Utah is set to abolish its practice of automatically mailing ballots to all voters under a bill approved by the state’s GOP-controlled legislature. Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez report for the Washington Post.
The United States Postal Service is asking DOGE for help in reducing costs and overhauling the agency, according to a letter Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sent to Congress yesterday. Kelly Tyko reports for Axios.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is postponing several scheduled events this week due to “security concerns,” amid Democratic backlash over his vote to pass a government funding bill. Frank Thorp V, Sahil Kapur, and Ryan Nobles report for NBC News.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Rwanda has severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, its former colonial power, accusing it of undermining the country amid the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, giving Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. Belgium called the decision “disproportionate” and vowed to respond. Wedaeli Chibelushi reports for BBC News.
Peru’s President Dina Boluarte yesterday declared a state of emergency for 30 days in the capital and ordered the deployment of troops to assist police in combating a rise in violence, following widespread outrage after Sunday’s killing of popular singer, Paul Flores. The Associated Press reports.
Lithuanian prosecutors have alleged that Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, was responsible for an arson attack on an Ikea store in the capital, Vilnius, last year. Two Ukrainian suspects have been arrested, one in Lithuania and the other in Poland. Laurence Peter reports for BBC News.
Canada will review a planned purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets from United States’ Lockheed Martin due to changes in the geopolitical landscape and a need to strengthen domestic defense production, Prime Minister Mark Carney said yesterday, citing the potential for collaborating with Europe on jet fighter development and increasing production within Canada. Paul Vieria reports for the Wall Street Journal.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to temporarily leave France, after the investigative judges handling his ongoing illicit activity case lifted the travel restrictions. Eve Sampson and Adam Satariano report for the New York Times.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION
A federal judge has given the Justice Department a deadline of today to provide additional information on the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members in potential defiance of a court order, according to a court docket. At yesterday’s hearing in Washington’s federal district court, a Justice Department lawyer refused to answer detailed questions about the flights. Judge Boasberg directed the Justice Department to certify in writing by noon today that no immigrants were removed under the Alien Enemies Act after his written order came into effect. Sareen Habeshian reports for Axios; Alan Feuer and Zolan Kanno-Youngs report for the New York Times.
A Brown University assistant professor and doctor was deported over the weekend from Boston to Lebanon after agents found photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s supreme leader on her phone, a source told CNN. The recently deleted photos on Dr. Rasha Alawieh’s phone came to light in a court filing yesterday. Federal Judge Leo T. Sorokin said the government had filed an explanation stating that immigration enforcement deported Alawieh before being notified of the judge’s order preventing her deportation. Alawieh also reportedly acknowledged to federal agents that she attended Nasrallah’s February funeral – a public event attended by thousands – during her visit. Andy Rose and Pazmino report; Avery Lotz reports for Axios.
A federal appeals court yesterday declined 2-1 to block a district court judge’s order for six federal agencies to reinstate fired probationary employees. The new ruling does not speak to the legality of the firings, but refuses the Trump administration’s request for an administrative stay that would temporarily pause the ruling until the next stage of the appeal. Zach Schonfeld reports for The Hill.
Two transgender service members are suing the Trump administration over executive orders restricting transgender rights in the military. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in a New Jersey federal court, argues that Trump’s orders to define gender as male or female and prevent transgender service members subject them to discrimination and harm. Brooke Migdon reports for The Hill.
Did you miss this? Stay up-to-date with our Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions
