Dear A.,

Tonight marks the 20th Shabbat since October 7. 134 hostages have now spent 140 days captive in Gaza, enduring unimaginable horrors at the hands of Hamas terrorists.

"Today I can tell you that after 140 days with lack of water, lack of fresh air, lack of daylight, lack of medical care, lack of clean water, etc. there's not one hostage can be considered healthy. Not one," Daniel Shek, Director of Diplomacy at the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, told i24News.

Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar are currently in Paris for negotiations over a potential hostage release deal. CIA Director William Burns and mediators from Egypt and Qatar are participating in the talks.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose 23-year-old son Hersh is kidnapped in Gaza, told The Wall Street Journal this week that "hope is mandatory." When the large “Bring Hersh Home” banner on her balcony flaps in the wind, she takes it as a signal that he is fighting to get home and knocking at their door. “Come on, Hersh, come home,” she says to him. “Keep fighting. Stay strong.”

I encourage you to share the graphics below to join the people of Israel in demanding that Hamas #FreeTheHostages now!

Israeli Navy conducts drills for potential war against Hezbollah
 

The Israeli Navy carried out extensive military exercises this week in preparation for a war in the north, as Hezbollah continues to launch daily rockets, missiles, and drones into Israel.

The drills were coordinated with the Israeli Air Force to simulate aerial rescue operations, foiling drone attacks, and refueling missile boats at sea.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that "Israel will not be patient much longer for a diplomatic solution in the north." Katz sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council this week highlighting Iran's accelerated weapons shipments to Hezbollah through Syria since the war began.

"Over the past months, while Israel is engaged in an ongoing armed conflict on numerous fronts, Iran is accelerating the pace of its weapons transfers to Hezbollah," he wrote. "Iran is doing so by ground, using the porous Syrian-Lebanese border, as well as by air and sea, in violation of UNSCR 1701."

There is no limit to the amount of humanitarian aid that can enter Gaza
 

As Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, it is fulfilling its obligation to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Nearly 14,000 trucks carrying over 250,000 tons of humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip since the start of the war. 

Israel and the World Food Program have also reached an agreement to send a massive shipment of American flour to Gaza – enough to feed 1.5 million Gazans for 5 months.

The agreement bypasses UNRWA – the U.N. agency exposed for employing over 1,400 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists on its staff.

20 bakeries are now operational in Gaza following Israel's distribution of food supplies, providing over 2.5 million pita breads a day to civilians. 

Iran sending ballistic missiles to Russia
 

U.S. officials believe Iran is providing ballistic missiles to Putin to help kill Ukrainians.

The Biden administration warned of a "swift and severe" response from the international community if the regime is found to have sent the weapons to Russia.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said yesterday that, "Iran has been providing Russia with significant numbers of drones, guided aerial bombs, and artillery ammunition, which Russia has been using to some effect to attack Ukraine."

"Iran is not helping Russia for free," he added. "In return for Iran's support, Russia has been offering Tehran unprecedented defense cooperation. So in total, Iran is seeking billions of dollars'-worth of military equipment from Russia. This will increase the threat posed by Iran not only to the United States, but to our partners throughout the Middle East region."

Last year, the House passed the MISSILES Act to increase sanctions on those aiding Iran's missile program, in a 403-8 vote. AIPAC urges the Senate to immediately pass this legislation to counter this growing threat.

Continue to follow AIPAC on social media throughout the weekend for the latest updates.

Shabbat Shalom,

Cory Meyer
Digital Engagement Director