AIPAC's National Mobilization Week begins tomorrow
Dear A.,
Israel renewed its military campaign to destroy Hamas after the terrorist group reneged on its agreement by firing rockets at Israeli homes and refusing to release 10 hostages.
The IDF is using air strikes and ground troops to push further into Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, "We are also operating in areas where we did not operate in the last month and this will increase. This action will reach every area that needs to be reached. We are going for the complete elimination of the Hamas organization."
So far, the IDF has hit 400 terror targets across Gaza, including 50 sites in Khan Yunis – a city in southern Gaza.
In a revealing video, Israeli soldiers exposed a cache of rockets hidden in a civilian building and beneath UNRWA boxes and humanitarian supplies.
I encourage you to read this piece in The Jerusalem Post about the soldiers who are responsible for Iron Dome. In the past 8 weeks, these young men and women have intercepted more than 2,000 rockets fired from Gaza at Israeli homes and communities. Countless Israelis would have been killed but for this remarkable system we work with Congress to fund and support each year.
Notably, not a single member of Congress who has been leading the calls for a ceasefire has said a word condemning Hamas for breaking the deal.
While never shy to condemn and criticize Israel, Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Summer Lee, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pramila Jayapal, haven't issued a tweet or statement condemning Hamas for renewing its rocket attacks and refusing to release more hostages.
Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) has been outspoken on Fox, CNN and MSNBC criticizing his colleagues’ calls for a ceasefire, while voicing his support of Israel's operation.
I also encourage you to watch Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) as he responds to Code Pink's attempt to ambush him with demands to call for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, 56 days after horrible video and pictures of Naama Levy (who is still in captivity) showed her being dragged from a Jeep in Gaza with bloody pants, and numerous stories about of rape were shared by survivors, family members, and medical examiners, the UN Women agency finally issued its first statement condemning Hamas, merely saying it was "alarmed" by the accounts of gender-based violence.
The UN organization has come under fire for its silence. 87 members of Congress signed an AIPAC-backed bipartisan letter this week saying the group can't be viewed as an honest advocate for women's rights while ignoring the atrocities committing by Hamas.
Starting tomorrow, you'll start to receive emails and texts about AIPAC's National Mobilization Week to encourage calls into congressional offices. We've partnered with American Jewish organizations on this effort, and encourage you to post, text, email, and share those messages in addition to making calls yourself.
Follow AIPAC on social media to stay up to date on the latest news and information about the war.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
