One Happy Houthi

Struck but Not Forgotten March Madness Israel Update, Witkoff, Joint Protests, Campus Chaos, A Bipartisan Bill, Pending Deal: The Weekly Conquest Week of 3.23.25 – 3.29.25

Welcome to the ZioKnight

Week of March 23, 2025

The Houthis in January

Long-term Zioknights may remember my concern about one Houthi in particular. While certainly being a problematic individual, I expressed in January that “I [couldn’t] help but hope the guy in the middle [was] ok.”

The Houthis in March

So, I thank the New York Times for publishing and my trusty editor (Dad) for sharing that he seems alive and well!

Sunday 3.23

Auburn’s coach, Bruce Pearl made the most of his post-game interview after beating Creighton in March Madness. He said “it was God’s plan to give us this success… To give us this platform. To give us an opportunity to start this conference briefly and remind the world that Edan Alexander is still held hostage in Gaza right now.” I had Duke to win, but now I’m having second thoughts. [1]

Monday 3.24

Some of the recent moves of the Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, have raised GOP lawmakers’ eyebrows. He suggested that a demilitarized Hamas can have a role in post-war Gaza, Iran’s nuclear program mustn’t be dismantled, dismissed criticism of Qatar, and positively characterized Russia. The White House responded to these concerns, saying the President has full confidence in Witkoff and touted his negotiation power. This response isn’t likely to allay the lawmakers’ fears, as they are uneasy with his business-oriented, rather than foreign policy-based, dealmaking. [2]

Tuesday 3.25

Anti-Government Protests in Israel and Gaza

Israelis and Gazans protested for the same cause in a rare show of unity. Both groups support an end to the war and the hostages’ release.

If the sun’s out, it is as good of a day as any for a protest in Israel. The same can’t be said for Gaza where dissent is usually crushed immediately. This time, it took a few days. [3][4]

Wednesday 3.26

The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has revoked 300 student visas from what the State Department calls “Hamasniks.” The administration is warning universities that if such students reach a critical mass on their campuses, they will no longer be able to admit international students. They are hitting the schools where it hurts because such students are a key source of revenue. [5]

Thursday 3.27

A bipartisan bill passed in the House of Representatives to increase universities’ requirements to disclose foreign funding. All but three other members voted down Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s two anti-Israel amendments. That one’s gotta hurt. [6]

Friday 2.28

Hezbollah shot rockets into Israel. In response, Israel launched a strike against a drone storage facility in Beirut. The move was a sign that Israel will not take violations of the ceasefire lightly and strike where Lebanon feels it.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made the parallel that if Iran’s proxies strike Israel, “Israel must respond in Tehran.” [7]

Saturday 3.29

Oday Nasser Al Rabay

I spoke too soon about Hamas allowing the Gazan protest. The terrorist group tragically kidnapped, tortured, killed, and left Oday Nasser Al Rabay’s corpse in front of his parent’s house following his involvement in the demonstration as a warning that those who follow in his footsteps risk the same fate. [8]