Yesterday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan blamed Hamas for refusing to agree to the U.S.-brokered deal to pause fighting in Gaza in exchange for hostages to be freed and a surge of aid into Gaza.
"Those who would like to see a ceasefire in Gaza — a ceasefire is on the table today for six weeks to be built on into something more enduring if Hamas would simply release women, wounded, and elderly. And the fact that they will not do so says a lot to me about Hamas’ regard for innocent Palestinian civilians."
Sullivan went on to call out the media for failing to properly report that Hamas’ refusal to free hostages is to blame for the lack of a deal.
"When it comes to the issue of the hostage talks, one of the things that I have found somewhat absent from the coverage is that what we are talking about in the first phase is women, elderly, and wounded civilians," he stated about the U.S.-backed deal.
He also reaffirmed: "Israel had a right and an obligation to take action against Hamas. And Hamas created a set of burdens on Israel’s military operations that are nearly unprecedented by hiding among the civilian population. And that made it more difficult for Israel to conduct its military operations."
Israel continuing operations to defeat Hamas
Israel killed Senior Hamas terrorist Hadi Mustafa in Lebanon today. Mustafa, the leader of Hamas’ Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Lebanon, played a major role in directing terror squads and launching attacks against Israel.
Senior Hamas officials have been living and operating out of Lebanon, and the terrorist group conducted attacks on Israel from there – including an operation on October 7.
The IDF also eliminated Muhammad Abu Hasna, a commander in Hamas’ Operations Unit, today in a targeted strike in Rafah. Hasna has been been involved in stealing humanitarian aid meant for the Palestinian civilians and distributing it to other Hamas terrorists.
Speaking today in Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated Israel’s commitment to eliminating Hamas.
"We will bring to justice anyone who was involved in October 7 — either we will eliminate them or bring them to trial in Israel. There is no safe place, not here, not outside of Gaza, not anywhere across the Middle East — we will bring everyone to their place."
Galant added that the operation in Gaza is continuing apace. "Extraordinary work is being done here above and below ground. The forces reach everywhere, and the conclusion is that there is no safe place in Gaza for terrorists," Gallant said. "Even those who think that we are delaying will soon see that we will reach everyone."
New op-ed by mother of 19-year-old female hostage
Meirav Berger wrote in the National Post about the "more than 219,150 minutes of sheer terror, utter distress and excruciating dread since I last spoke with Agam," her 19-year-old daughter who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 (pictured below before and after being taken hostage).
"Yes, I’m counting the minutes," she writes. "Not the hours, not the days, not the weeks or months. Minute-by-minute, my mind and body are in constant, excruciating pain as I wait for Agam."
"The last I heard from the brave hostages who returned from the depths of the Gaza underground, she was in a dark, damp tunnel. They told me she, too, might be a victim of sexual violence."
Last night, six World Food Program humanitarian aid trucks entered northern Gaza via the "96th" gate on the security fence, near Kibbutz Be’eri.
This new operation was carried out as part of a pilot plan to expand the aid being brought into Gaza while preventing Hamas from taking control of the aid.
The convoy traveled on a new road constructed by the IDF to transfer more supplies into Gaza.
U.S. Annual Threat Assessment, military exercise highlight growing Iranian threat
Yesterday, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence released its unclassified Annual Threat Assessment, highlighting the growing and multifaceted threat of Iran and its increasing alliance with Russia, China and North Korea.
"Iran's hybrid approach to warfare — using both conventional and unconventional capabilities — will pose a threat to U.S. interests in the region for the foreseeable future. Iran's unconventional warfare operations and network of militant partners and proxies enable Tehran to pursue its interests and maintain strategic depth with a modicum of deniability."
Also yesterday, Iran, China and Russia began a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The ongoing drill, known as "Marine Security Belt 2024," includes more than 20 ships as well as naval helicopters. This is the fourth such drill between the three U.S. adversaries since 2019.
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
