Egypt Builds Barrier to Slow Refugees from Israel-Palestine Conflict [Full News Memo]

An update on the Super Bowl parade shooting, Hamas compound discovered under U.N. office, and Americans' views on which U.S. Institutions are positive for the country

Note: This week’s Memo is a bit shorter than usual. John proposed to his girlfriend on Tuesday =) and we were also preparing for the New York Encounter, an event in New York City this weekend at which we are a small sponsor.

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Newsbites

Super Bowl Parade Shooting: A mother of two was killed and 20 others injured in a shooting at the Super Bowl Parade in Kansas City on Wednesday. The shooting followed a tense dispute between groups in the crowd. 12 of the victims were children who are all expected to make a recovery. Two juveniles were eventually arrested and detained after multiple Chiefs fans in the crowd tackled the alleged shooter (video). More than 1 million people gathered in downtown Kansas City to celebrate Chiefs win over the San Francisco 49ers. An investigation by the KC Police Department is ongoing.

More: Following the attack, Patrick Mahomes tweeted, “Praying for Kansas City…”

President Biden will not take a cognitive exam as part of his upcoming physical exam, the White House confirmed this week. At a press conference (video), Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said a cognitive test is not necessary given the president proves his mental ability every day in “how he operates and how he thinks, by dealing with world leaders, by making difficult decisions on behalf of the American people.” The comments come in wake of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report last week that characterized the president as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”

More: The president is not required to release their medical exam results, although has been a customary practice since the 1970s. See Biden’s physical exam report from last year.

Hamas & U.N.: Deep underneath the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) office in Gaza City, Israeli forces discovered a Hamas communications compound that it says served as an important asset for the militant group. Israeli officials gave journalists a tour of the underground compound, which consisted of rooms of computer servers, offices, and living quarters. Israel says it appears the data center was drawing power from the U.N. office above for electricity, and alleges employees at UNRWA would have been aware of Hamas’ activity below, a claim the agency has denied. The discovery of the complex further increases the scrutiny toward UNRWA, which is already under intense pressure over allegations that 12 of its employees were involved in the Oct. 7th attack against Israel. 9 of the accused employees have since been terminated, 2 were already dead, and 1 is unaccounted for.

More: The U.S., which is the largest UNRWA donor having contributed over $200M in 2023, has frozen future funding for the organization.

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Egypt Builds Barrier to Slow Refugees from Israel-Palestine Conflict

What’s going on?

The Egyptian government is constructing an 8-square mile wall enclosure in the Sinai Desert near the Gaza Strip. As Israel’s military prepares to engage Hamas in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, officials are preparing for a massive exodus of Palestinian refugees. 

Israel has said anyone fleeing their homes would be allowed to return following the conflict, but many worry the displacement of potentially millions of Gazans would be permanent.

• Authorities believe the enclosure will help limit the number of refugees to between 50,000 - 60,000. In prior weeks and months, Egypt has sought to control the border by deploying military cars, soldiers. and fencing alongside the region.

The concrete wall enclosure is said to have the capacity to hold 100,000 people. 

In the event that Israel carries out the offensive in Rafah, the military aims to relocate the civilian population northward, keeping them within the Gaza Strip but away from the conflict zone, according to a senior Israeli military official. 

What would the enclosure be used for?

Palestinians who enter the enclosed area would not be allowed to leave unless they are leaving for another country, as per the contingency plans discussed by the Egyptian government. The goal of the enclosure would be to provide a buffer of time before either letting refugees into the country or rejecting them. 

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