President Donald Trump Calls for U.S. to Take Over Gaza
Introduction of Legislation Ensuring Access to Legal Counsel for People Detained by Customs and Border Protection
Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck Announces Reelection Campaign
One Seattle Comprehensive Plan Hosts First Public Hearing on Feb. 5
Following a visit to Washington, D.C., by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump announced his plans for the U.S. to take control of the Gaza Strip and forcibly resettle Palestinians to nearby countries. The announcement comes amid a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that began on Jan. 15 and was anticipated to last 42 days, and it calls into risk the chance of the ceasefire deal reaching its third phase, which was partially centered around reconstruction.
Without ruling out the possibility of U.S. military intervention to facilitate reconstruction in Gaza, Trump stated that he envisioned the U.S. taking on a "long-term ownership position" that would bring "great stability." He suggested that U.S. participation in development could turn Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East," which could "supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area."The people he envisions living in the area are not just Palestinians, but "the world's people," with the goal of turning Gaza into an international community.
"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too," said Trump. "We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings — level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different."
Upon seeing the state of Gaza after 16 months of war and bombing, Trump called Gaza a "demolition site." In recent weeks, he has urged neighboring Jordan and Egypt to take in the 1.8 million Palestinians who have been displaced because of over 15 months of war. Both countries have repeatedly stated they were not in support of further displacement of Palestinians and have rejected proposals to resettle more Palestinians within their lands.
Experts have stated that Trump's plan for forcible displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip may amount to a violation of international war or crime against humanity. It has also received international condemnation from countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Saudi Arabia, England, China, Russia, and Spain.
Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, has also condemned the actions, as has the Palestinian Authority, which has no political connection to Hamas and governs the West Bank. The West Bank has seen an uptick in Israeli military action following the ceasefire in Gaza, raising questions about whether the U.S. and Israel will push for a formal annexation of the West Bank.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is currently slated to end on March 1. If all continues according to the current plan, 33 Israeli captives will have been released by that point, alongside 100 Palestinian prisoners. In Phase 2, up to 65 of the remaining captives will be released, and Israel would commit to withdrawing from Gaza, in anticipation of a permanent ceasefire.
The current count of Palestinians who have been killed in the Gaza Strip has risen to nearly 62,000 since the ceasefire, as more deceased Palestinians have been found. An estimated 14,222 people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Today, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Washington’s 7th Congressional District) and Sen. Alex Padilla (a Democrat from California) are introducing the Access to Counsel Act. It ensures that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and others with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports. This will be introduced in conjunction with the NO BAN Act, legislation to prevent another Muslim ban, led by Rep. Judy Chu (California’s 28th Congressional District) and Sen. Chris Coons (a Democrat from Delaware).
In a press release, Jayapal said, "It was incredibly clear how critical this legislation was under the first Trump Administration, as he stripped basic civil rights away from individuals for reasons ranging from the color of their skin to the country of their origin. I remember rushing to my local airport and found a U.S. citizen woman waiting to welcome her husband who had been put on a plane back without being allowed to see an attorney, despite traveling on a valid visa. … It is more important now than ever, under a second Trump Administration, that we codify the right to access counsel for detained persons who are legally allowed access to the United States. As we continue to see him scapegoat immigrants, we must protect people from unjust detention."
The Access to Counsel Act was originally introduced by Jayapal in 2017 as a direct response to President Donald Trump's Muslim ban. The order took effect immediately, which unleashed chaos in airports across the country. People flying in from seven Muslim-majority countries were detained for hours without food or water before being deported. Some were pressured to sign papers giving up their legal status. In many cases, these individuals had no opportunity to see an attorney or even call an immediate family member to let them know they were being turned back. Since then, there have been numerous reports of similar treatment to individuals holding valid visas.
The Access to Counsel Act would:
Require the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that people with valid travel documents who present themselves at the border, airports, or other points of interaction can communicate with counsel and other interested parties if they are subjected to prolonged inspection by CBP.
Allow counsel or a covered interested party the ability to advocate on behalf of the individual by providing information or documentation in support of the individual.
Invalidate any effort by CBP to persuade someone to relinquish their legal status (by executing an I-407 or Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status) if that person has been denied access to counsel.
On Tuesday, Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced her reelection campaign for a full four-year term. Rinck was elected in November 2024 with 58% of the vote, defeating former Councilmember Tanya Woo for citywide Position 8. Woo had stepped into her role in January 2024, serving a temporary term after former Councilmemeber Teresa Mosqueda was elected to King County Council partway through her term.
Despite the Seattle City Council shifting more conservative in recent years, Rinck defeated Woo with a more progressive platform that focused on progressive revenue, affordable housing, alternative models to navigate crime, and climate action.
"As a policy leader and now as a member of the City Council, I've been a tireless champion for affordability, access, and opportunity for all," said Rinck in a press release. "Seattle neighbors deserve a future with housing affordability regardless of income, communities that are safe for all, fully-funded essential programs, and our rights protected against national attacks. I'm proud of what we have accomplished towards that future in a short time and look forward to building on it in the coming term.
Rinck has experience working at the University of Washington, where she supported fiscal policy analysis and budgeting for higher education. She also supported human services and public health policy for 38 member cities that are a part of the Sound Cities Association, as well as directed emergency and severe weather response plans for unsheltered individuals through her work at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. She was born to parents who were teenagers and draws from direct family experience with incarceration, substance abuse, and homelessness.
The City of Seattle will host its first public hearing around Mayor Bruce Harrell's Comprehensive Plan on Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. The plan is designed to forecast the city's growth over the next 20 years and has a large focus on affordable housing, walkable neighborhoods, and development. Just yesterday, Harrell signed an executive order that works within the Comprehensive Plan and outlines new strategies, including the creation of an Anti-Displacement Work Group, a number of "service design improvements," and proposed plans for policy implementation around anti-displacement measures.
The Comprehensive Plan was first outlined by Harrell in October 2024 and sent to the City Council for deliberation in January. Council will spend the next months amending the legislation, which will be partially guided by public comment from Seattle residents.
The public hearing will be led by Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3), who chairs the Select Committee for the Comprehensive Plan. It will take place both virtually and in person at City Hall, with in-person public comment accepted in Council Chambers from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and virtual public comment beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Registration for in-person comment takes place in person using a sign-up sheet located inside Council chambers up to 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Registration for virtual public comment must be made online by 4 p.m. today, and will proceed in the order participants registered. Written comments are also welcome, and must be submitted to all Councilmembers via an email to Council@Seattle.gov by the start of the meeting. They can also be mailed to: Seattle City Hall, Attn: Council Public Comment, 600 4th Ave., Floor 2, Seattle, WA 98104.
The public hearing will be streamed online via the Seattle Channel.
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