As Israeli forces push further ahead with their mission in Gaza to drive Hamas from power, destroy Hamas’ terror capabilities and free the hostages, Israeli troops are training in the north to increase their readiness should a war break out between Israel and Hezbollah.
A war on the northern front would be fundamentally different than the battle against Hamas in the south. While urban combat would also be intense there, the more mountainous, forested and snowy terrain in the north requires advanced training and equipment.
With more than 100,000 rockets and missiles, Hezbollah would be able to strike all of Israel’s major infrastructure sites, and it has already said it would target airports, water desalination facilities, power plants, hospitals and military bases.
This weekend’s drill comes amid continued rocket, missile, drone and infiltration attacks from Hezbollah since October 8.
Israeli Children Speak Out
As the war continues, the Israeli people are demonstrating their profound strength and resilience, knowing they are fighting to protect their families and safeguard their futures. This isn’t a war Israel wanted, but its one they must — and will — win. But the personal cost is tremendous.
In a heartbreaking segment, Israel’s Channel 12 spoke with children whose parents in the IDF were killed on and since October 7. More than 400 Israeli children have lost at least one parent since the massacre.
"I’m sad," one daughter said, "in the evenings he would give me a bedtime hug. So I imagine him coming and giving me a hug," as her younger 6-year-old sister chimed in, "I loved hugging Dad."
Senator Fetterman Standing up to Anti-Israel Protestors
Anti-Israel protesters converged on Senator John Fetterman’s home on Friday night, yelling and chanting outside his window. The Senator, who has been one the of most outspoken pro-Israel voices throughout this war and whose Senate office walls are covered with posters of all the remaining hostages, responded to the protestors by taking to the roof of his home and proudly waving an Israeli flag.
WSJ: U.N.’s Credibility on Trial
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board published a piece this weekend, The U.N.’s War on Israel, pointing to the International Court of Justice "[dignifying] a blood libel" by considering the charge of "genocide" against Israel, as well as to the new evidence that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 massacre.
"Gaza will never be a peaceful refuge as long as its friend at the U.N. keep using it for anti-Israel purposes," writes the Journal.
The UK, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Scotland have joined the Biden administration in suspending aid to UNRWA.
As Israel prepares its response to the ICJ’s orders, Ugandan Justice Julia Sebutinde — the first African woman to serve on the court — wrote a dissenting opinion to the court’s orders, arguing that South Africa failed to prove any genocidal intent and that it didn’t demonstrate it has the right to bring such charges forward. Sebutinde is the only justice on the 17-member panel to vote against every one of the provisional measures ordered by the court.
Aid and Humanitarian Zones in Gaza
The IDF opened up a new humanitarian corridor this weekend for civilians leaving the combat zones in the southern Gazan city of Khan Yunis. Tens of thousands of Palestinians moved to the safe area. Footage from the area shows people chanting "down with Hamas."
Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel. Fuel, cooking gas and ambulances were transferred into Gaza yesterday.
Of the more than 10,000 trucks that have been inspected since the war started, 99% have been transferred into Gaza.
136 Israelis are still held hostage by Hamas. Join us in sharing their stories.
Every hostage is a life interrupted and a family in pain. We encourage you to join us in making each of their stories known by sharing a graphic on social media and using the hashtag #BringThemHomeNow.
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