Starting tonight, the people of Israel commemorate Yom Hazikaron, Israel's national day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.
It is a year unlike any other in Israel's history, as the nation grieves for those lost and prays for the return of 132 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Tonight, the Jewish state will honor 1,594 soldiers and civilians who were killed since last Memorial Day, marking the deadliest year for Israel in five decades.
766 IDF soldiers were killed while serving in the military, and another 61 veterans died from injuries sustained in previous years.
25,040 Israelis have been killed while serving the country since 1860, when Israel and the Jewish community in the region began counting its fallen soldiers.
As Israel honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the Jewish state and fight for its future, the nation will transition 24 hours later to mark Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.
Subdued ceremonies will take place starting tomorrow night and into Tuesday, including in Gaza-border communities that were attacked on October 7 and on IDF bases that were targeted in the Hamas massacre.
We join the people of Israel in mourning all of those lost and honoring their heroic sacrifice. Together, we recommit to the work we must do to ensure Israel can survive and thrive as an independent and secure nation, with America by its side.
State Department report confirms Israel not misusing U.S.-origin equipment
On Friday, the State Department issued its report on Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law and its use of U.S.-origin weapons and equipment.
The report recognizes that Israel is confronting an unprecedented military battlefield, is not misusing American-origin equipment, and is not prohibiting or restricting U.S. humanitarian aid from entering Gaza as mandated by section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act.
AIPAC issued this statement following the report, saying: "There is no reason for critical arms shipments to Israel to be delayed. The administration must immediately reverse its pause and provide our ally the resources it needs to win this war against Hamas and confront the growing dangers from Iran and Hezbollah.
This war that Hamas started by breaking a ceasefire on October 7 has caused terrible suffering and tragedies, for both Israelis and Palestinians. The IDF is a moral army fighting a terror group employing despicable, unprecedented tactics deliberately designed to cause death for Palestinians and destruction in Gaza.
This terrible war ends if Hamas surrenders and frees the hostages. Noble efforts to broker a 6-week pause in fighting to free hostages and surge aid require increased pressure on Hamas."
Biden: "It's up to Hamas...we could end it tomorrow."
President Joe Biden said yesterday that "there would be a ceasefire tomorrow if Hamas would release the hostages."
"Israel said it's up to Hamas; if they wanted to do it, we could end it tomorrow," the president said.
"Hamas have been offered a deal which would release hundreds of prisoners from Israeli jails, that would provide a pause in the fighting… and they’re not taking that deal," he said.
Cameron also rejected the idea of an arms embargo on Israel, saying “it would strengthen Hamas. It would weaken Israel. I think it probably makes a hostage deal less likely."
Hamas is prolonging this war. Those calling for a ceasefire now should place the blame on the terrorist organization preventing it from happening.
On Mother's Day, remembering those who cannot celebrate
IDF operating against Hamas cells where they have regrouped in Gaza
The IDF continues to fight Hamas cells in central and southern Gaza, including in the central cities of Zeitoun and Jabaliya where Hamas has tried to regroup its forces.
The IDF says it had “intelligence information about the presence of terrorists and the restoration of terror infrastructure" by Hamas in the Jabaliya area. Israeli fighter jets struck 30 Hamas targets and killed several terrorists overnight.
Across Gaza, Israeli airstrikes were carried out against more than 150 targets.
Meanwhile, the IDF continues its planned and incremental operation to root out Hamas in Rafah. Approximately 300,000 civilians have been evacuated out of the area toward the humanitarian zone established by the IDF along the western coast. Troops destroyed several tunnel shafts and rocket launchers that were ready to be used in attacks against Israel.
For the sixth time in the last week, Hamas launched rockets at the Kerem Shalom Humanitarian crossing, targeting a key entry point through which Israel is surging aid into Gaza.
Israel announces opening of new humanitarian crossing for northern Gaza
Today the IDF announced that a new Western Erez Crossing has been opened for humanitarian aid deliveries into the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
The IDF says the crossing was opened “as part of the effort to increase aid routes to the Gaza Strip, and to the northern Gaza Strip in particular.”
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.
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