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Dear A.,
Israeli leaders across the political spectrum congratulated President Trump on his inauguration today, including Prime Minister
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Benjamin Netanyahu , Israeli President
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Isaac Herzog , Opposition Leader
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Yair Lapid , Foreign Minister
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Gideon Sa'ar , and Defense Minister
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Israel Katz .
"Thank you for your unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to building a better future for our region," President Herzog said. "A special thank you for your commitment to bringing all our hostages home."
In his inaugural address, President Trump lauded the release of the hostages. "I'm pleased to say that as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families."
Families of the hostages sat in the front row for his speech to supporters at a Washington, D.C., arena following the ceremony at the Capitol.
AIPAC congratulates President Trump and Vice President JD Vance on their inauguration, and we look forward to working together with the new administration to strengthen and expand the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Freed hostages starting to tell their stories
Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher are giving their first testimonies one day after they were freed from the grips of Hamas in Gaza. The women say they were moved repeatedly throughout their 471 days held hostage, including to civilian apartments, underground tunnels, and humanitarian compounds.
They spent most of their days without sunlight, and even underwent surgery without anesthesia — a horrific brutality that other hostages also endured while held captive by the terrorists.
"The fact that I returned home, doesn’t mean that those who are left there shouldn’t,"
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Doron said after returning to Israel . "They all must come back. Please keep fighting, don’t give up, we have to bring them all back home, just like I got to go back to my family, so all the hostages should."
94 hostages, including 7 Americans, remain in Hamas captivity.
According to the deal, four more hostages must be released this coming Saturday, with three released each Saturday that follows until a final group of 14 are freed on day 42 of the agreement.
MUST WATCH
"I came back alive!" The first moments when Romi, Emily, and Doron were reunited with their parents
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Israeli Ambassador Herzog: Expect Trump to lift hold on 2,000-pound munitions
Israel expects President Trump to lift the Biden administration's hold on the supply of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel during in his first days in office, outgoing Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog
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told Axios.
"We believe that Trump is going to release, at the beginning of his term, the munitions that haven't been released until now by the Biden administration," Herzog said.
IDF chief of staff: We must be prepared for major counter-terror ops in West Bank
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said today that the military "must be prepared for significant operations in the West Bank in the coming days to preempt and catch the terrorists before they reach our citizens."
The comments come after the first wave of 90 Palestinian prisoners were released into the West Bank as part of the hostage-ceasefire deal.
Footage circulating on social media last night showed
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crowds waving Hamas flags in the town of Beitunia, where the prisoners were released.
Some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are serving life sentences for murdering and injuring Israelis, will be freed as part of the agreement.
Waltz: Hamas will never govern Gaza
Incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
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said yesterday that if Hamas reneges on the hostage deal the United States will support Israel “in doing what it has to do.”
“Hamas will never govern Gaza. That is completely unacceptable," he said in an interview with CBS's Face the Nation.
Last week, Waltz committed to supporting Israel should it need to resume fighting against Hamas in Gaza. “We’ve made it very clear to the Israelis, and I want the people of Israel to hear me on this: If they need to go back in, we’re with them,” he said. “If Hamas doesn’t live up to the terms of this agreement, we are with them.”
Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.
Cory Meyer
Director of Communications
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Support our work to keep Israel safe.
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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