Earlier today, the IDF and Shin Bet announced that they had killed the commander of Hamas’ rocket unit in central Gaza.
In addition to leading a key part of the terror group’s rocket fire into Israel since 2008, Amar Atiya Darwish Aladini also "played a central role in the preparations" for the October 7 massacre.
Over the past 152 days, more than 13,000 rockets have been launched into Israeli communities.
Meanwhile, in an outrageous comment that further exposes how the U.N. views attacks on Israel, a top U.N. official said today that she was "unaware" of the daily rocket attacks into Israel from Hamas and Hezbollah since October 7.
Reem Alsalem, the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, made the absurd statement in an interview with an Israeli journalist on the same day that Hezbollah launched over 30 rockets into Israel.
Tell Congress: Hamas is Rejecting U.S.-Backed Deal
Make sure your elected leaders know the Israelis accepted the U.S.-brokered deal that would pause fighting, free hostages and surge aid, and Hamas has failed to respond.
Israeli Defense Minister on growing Hezbollah threat
With daily attacks from Lebanon growing bolder and deadlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Hezbollah was "dragging the parties to a dangerous escalation."
"We are committed to the diplomatic process. However, Hezbollah's aggression is bringing us closer to a critical point in the decision-making regarding our military activities in Lebanon," Gallant said in a statement yesterday after meeting U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, who is seeking a mediated end to that conflict.
Moments after Gallant’s statement, Hezbollah launched several rockets into Israel, damaging several buildings in areas where Israeli civilians have been evacuated.
Freed hostage, hostage families to attend State of the Union
As President Joe Biden gives his State of the Union address tomorrow, a freed Israeli hostage and the family members of at least 17 current hostages will be in the gallery.
Those in attendance will be guests of a bipartisan group of Congress members, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Mia Schem, a 21-year-old freed hostage who will attend as a guest of Speaker Johnson, said: "While my thoughts and prayers are constantly with my friends who are still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, I am grateful to the Speaker for allowing me to show my gratitude for all the United States Government has done to assist the people of Israel in their time of need. The bond between our countries is more important than ever and cannot be broken."
Urban warfare expert: “I Have Delivered Aid in War Zones. They Were the Missions We Feared Most”
John Spencer, the chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, published a new piece in Newsweek underscoring the immense challenge of distributing aid in a war zone based on his personal experiences doing so in Iraq.
"In urban areas, especially those still active war zones, the threats are everywhere. In the case of Gaza where heavy fighting continues, threats can be snipers, rocket propelled grenades."
"We know Hamas dressed in civilian clothes have been walking up to armored vehicles to place magnet bombs and fire into the crowd during aid distribution. Much of combat is about seeking control, and one of the reasons delivering aid in a combat zone is so hectic is because of how control can be lost in a millisecond."
"I cannot imagine the added feeling of helplessness not only in the moment when all control is lost in a humanitarian aid delivery operation but knowing that your worst moment is being recorded. I do not wish it on any soldier."
Houthis escalate attacks, killing sailors and forcing U.S. to shoot down drones and missile
Today, for the first time, a Houthi missile strike killed two crew members on a commercial ship, wounded six others and forced the remaining survivors to abandon the ship.
This was the first fatal strike but follows months of Houthi attacks against global shipping in the vital Red Sea waterways.
Yesterday, a separate Houthi attack targeted the USS Carney, which was forced to shoot down bomb-carrying drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile.
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.
AIPAC 251 H St. NW • Washington D.C. 20001 • TEL 202-639-5200
