Dear A.,

The IDF uncovered a huge tunnel that traversed 60 feet deep under northern Gaza and was connected to the apartments of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The tunnel is understood to be an underground hideout for Sinwar, who had been operating in northern Gaza before fleeing to Khan Younis in a humanitarian convoy.

The tunnels had prayer rooms, ventilation, sewage, power and communications lines. The video below shows IDF soldiers operating inside the network used by Hamas’ leadership, and then blowing up the massive structure.

The IDF is continuing to advance in Khan Younis. Today Israeli troops reached Hamas’ intelligence division in the city and acquired "very valuable" materials from the site. The Israeli Air Force carried out 50 strikes in the city as ground troops pressed deeper into the city.

Mia Schem, the 21-year-old French-Israeli who was kidnapped by Hamas and held captive for 54 days, spoke publicly about the horror of captivity. She told her harrowing story of being shot in the hand and then sexually assaulted.

In Gaza, Mia had surgery performed on her without pain killers, and was held in a home that was guarded 24/7 by a man whose wife brought her small scraps of food every few days as their child taunted her. She said other Gazans would come to the house and she "felt like an animal in a zoo."

She was later taken into the tunnels and described the horrible conditions the other hostages were forced to endure. She said they could hear the Israeli operation above, and that was a signal "they didn’t forget me."

Upon her release, Mia felt compelled to apologize to the other hostages for being allowed to leave and assured them that they too would be freed. "Make a fuss," the hostages told her, "so they won’t forget us."

Mia’s harrowing story was released as The New York Times posted an investigative report into the barbarism and sexual assaults perpetrated by Hamas on October 7. The gruesome and graphic stories can be read here.

Our next AIPAC update email on the war will be sent on January 2. We will continue to frequently post to our social media feeds with relevant news and updates. Click here to follow AIPAC online.

As 2023 comes to a close, I want to thank you and your family for your enduring support of AIPAC and our shared mission.
 
Our work together has never been more important. I look forward to partnering with you in 2024 to ensure the U.S.-Israel relationship continues to grow stronger, Israel has the resources required to win this war, and that we have the political strength needed to help our pro-Israel friends and defeat anti-Israel candidates.

Sincerely,

Cory Meyer
Digital Engagement Director