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Dear A.,
On Friday, the IDF announced it recovered the bodies of Shani Louk (23), Amit Buskila (28) and Yitzhak Gelernter (53), who were murdered by Hamas on October 7 and whose bodies were abducted by the terrorists to Gaza.
Yesterday Israel confirmed that the body of a fourth victim,
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53-year-old Ron Benjamin , was also recovered in the IDF operation.
Benjamin was murdered by Hamas terrorists while returning home from a bike ride on the morning of October 7. He is survived by his wife Ayelet and his children Shai and Gil.
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Heavy fighting continued across the Gaza Strip over the weekend. The air force struck more than 70 Hamas targets throughout Gaza, as ground forces operated in Rafah in the south and Jabaliya in the north.
Two IDF soldiers were
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killed yesterday in battles against Hamas terrorists, bringing the number of slain soldiers during the ground offensive to 282.
More than 10 Hamas tunnel shafts have been discovered in the terror group's final stronghold of Rafah, where the IDF is carrying out an incremental operation to root out Hamas in the city.
Through a massive communications effort, the IDF has encouraged civilians in specific neighborhoods in Rafah to evacuate and move to an expanded humanitarian zone in the al-Mawasi and Khan Younis areas.
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800,000 civilians have been safely evacuated so far , despite claims that it would take months to move civilians out of Rafah.
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U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is in Israel today meeting with top Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Sullivan was in Saudi Arabia earlier in the day for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on
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a pathway forward to normalization with Israel.
Reports: Helicopter crashes carrying Iranian president, foreign minister
Iranian state media
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reported this morning that a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi crashed while traveling in Iran's East Azerbaijan province.
At least 40 search and rescue teams were deployed amid
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harsh weather and heavy fog .
Reportedly on board with Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards.
Former IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Tamir Hayman told reporters today that in the event Raisi has died in the crash, "it would be hard to find someone worse."
Hayman added that “it would have no strategic impact" on Israel's war against Iran and its terror proxies, as only Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, makes major strategic decisions for the regime.
Known as the "
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Butcher of Tehran ," Raisi is
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personally responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iranians. He is under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses.
IDF kills senior Hamas operative as fighting continues across Gaza
Senior Hamas terrorist Azmi Abu Daqqa was involved in smuggling weapons and money for Hamas in Gaza. Yesterday he was
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killed in an IDF airstrike.
The IDF struck dozens more Hamas targets across Gaza over the last 24 hours, including two Hamas commanders who were preparing to attack Israeli forces in the Rafah area.
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Israel continues to surge aid into Gaza
The first pallets of humanitarian aid were transferred into Gaza via the new floating pier built by the U.S. military and secured by the IDF. Israel is operating the pier
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in coordination with U.S. Central Command.
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Over 1,000 aid trucks entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings last week, along with over 42,000 gallons of fuel.
In addition,
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thousands of tents purchased by Israel were transferred through Kerem Shalom to the humanitarian area in al-Mawasi, for the 800,000 civilians whom Israel has helped evacuate safely out of Rafah.
WATCH: Eden Golan performs "October Rain" at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv
Last night at a rally in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, Israel's Eurovision contestant Eden Golan performed her song "October Rain" for the first time since competing in the contest earlier this month.
While Eurovision originally forced Golan to change the lyrics of the song claiming they were too political, she sang her original, uncensored version as a tribute to the victims of Hamas' massacre. Watch her moving performance below.
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Sincerely,
Cory Meyer
Deputy Director of Communications
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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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