President Biden meets with Israeli leaders to discuss cease fire

President Biden met with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Washington on Monday to discuss strategies for a cease fire in the Israel-Hamas war, according to AP News. 

A ceasefire would permit humanitarian aid to reach those affected in the region.

“The key elements of this deal are on the table,” Biden said. The president continued, saying the U.S. will do “everything possible” for an agreement to be reached. 

Biden met with Abdullah II among criticism from Arab-Americans of the president’s support for Israel in the conflict.

The meeting was the first occasion in which President Biden deviated from his original stance of opposition to any cease fire during the war. 

Shooter at Houston church possessed two rifles, police say

Police reports said the shooter at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church used one of the two rifles in her possession to injure two people Monday, according to CBS News. 

The shooter, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, had a history of mental illness, police said. 

Her 7-year-old son was injured in the shooting and is in critical condition. 

Moreno was a former member of the Lakewood congregation, police said. 

Moreno never entered the church sanctuary and was killed by two off-duty police officers present in the building, police said.

Schumer encourages Senate to finish foreign aid bill

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged his colleagues to pass a $95 billion aid bill Monday. The bill provides aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, according to ABC News. 

“By now, we have taken numerous procedural votes that prove beyond doubt that there’s strong support behind this bill,” Schumer said. 

Schumer’s efforts were met with a filibuster from Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who urged legislators to think about the effects it could have on the national debt.