To view this email as a web page, go to the link below, or copy and paste it into your browser's address window.
[link removed]



Dear A.,


Naama Levy, who was freed from Hamas captivity on Saturday,
[link removed]
released her first statement today since coming home: "After 477 days, I’m at home at last. I am safe and protected, surrounded by family and friends, and feeling better by the day."

After being held alone for the first 50 days, Naama said she was then held together with four other female hostages, three of which were also released Saturday. The fourth, Agam Berger, is set to be released Thursday


"We strengthened each other until the release day and also after it," Naama added. "It is important to me to thank IDF fighters and all the Israeli people — already in captivity I saw how you were fighting for me. Thank you everyone, I love you."


More details also emerged today about the horrific treatment of many of the hostages recently released by Hamas.


Some hostages were held in tunnels for up to eight months straight with no daylight and little human contact, the deputy chief of the Israeli military’s medical corps
[link removed]
told reporters . "Some of them were alone through the entire time they were there. Those who said they were together were in better shape."


The hostages were treated better in the days leading up to their release when they were allowed to shower, change their clothes and received more food, but all seven recently released women received poor medical care while in captivity and are facing mental health issues. Some of the women returned home with untreated shrapnel wounds.


"This is a very severe trauma that they have been through, the kidnapping and what’s been happening in captivity, the isolation,"
[link removed]
said Lt. Col. Uzi Becor, the commander of an Israeli military unit responsible for the initial reception of released hostages.


"It is a process. Not everything you’ll see in the first days."

90 hostages, including seven Americans, remain in Hamas captivity.


The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its allies in the Iran, Qatar and Turkey to ensure the terror group releases the hostages.


Netanyahu to meet with Trump at the White House


Prime Minister Netanyahu is
[link removed]
scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday, February 4th, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.


In a
[link removed]
letter to Netanyahu, Trump wrote: "I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries."


Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House since President Trump assumed office for his second term.

Cloture vote on Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act fails


Earlier today, the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.


We are disappointed that the Senate failed to move forward today on this legislation to impose sanctions on those who assist the International Criminal Court's baseless investigations or prosecutions of American troops and our allies, including Israel.


We will continue to work for the bipartisan support necessary to gain Senate approval and win final enactment of this important bill.

TAKE 45 SECONDS: Email your senators now and thank those who voted to advance this important legislation and express your disappointment in those who didn’t.
[link removed]
Click here to act now.


The roll call from the vote can be found
[link removed]
here .

Israel to upgrade American-made fighter jets as Iran purchases jets from Russia


The Israeli Defense Ministry
[link removed]
announced yesterday that it will spend $80 million to upgrade the Israeli Air Force's American-made F-16 fighter jets.


F-16s were reportedly used in Israel's strikes on Iran and Yemen over the past 15 months.


Meanwhile, an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander
[link removed]
said that Iran has purchased advanced Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets.


Earlier this month, Iran and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership pledging to expand their "military-technical cooperation."

Israeli troops to continue securing Syrian border


Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz
[link removed]
visited the Syrian side of Mount Hermon today and announced that, "The IDF will remain at the summit of the Hermon and the security zone indefinitely to ensure the security of the communities of the Golan Heights and the north, and all the residents of Israel."


The IDF took positions on the Syrian side of Israel's northern border following the collapse of the Assad regime, in order to prevent terrorist threats to Israeli communities.


[link removed]

Defense Minister Israel Katz pictured with IDF troops on Mount Hermon earlier today.

Hezbollah leader rejects Lebanon ceasefire extension


Following the White House's recent announcement of an extension to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah terrorist leader Naim Qassem
[link removed]
said in a televised address that, "we do not accept any justification to extend for one moment or one day."


"Nobody in Lebanon can accept the extension (of Israeli troops withdrawal) for one moment. Israel must get out," Qassem said. "Any repercussions of the withdrawal's delay will be the responsibility of the U.N., the U.S., France and the Israeli entity."


Meanwhile, the IDF today carried out an
[link removed]
airstrike in southern Lebanon targeting a truck and several other vehicles used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons. The Iranian-backed terror group has routinely violated the ceasefire agreement since it came into effect, forcing Israel to take action.

The United States must continue to ensure Israel has the resources and support necessary to defend its people and increase the pressure on Lebanon and Hezbollah to fully comply with the terms of the ceasefire.

New op-ed: Polling reveals Americans’ widespread, bipartisan support for Israel


A new op-ed in The Hill
[link removed]
explains that polling data shows "solid majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents remain committed to supporting Israel and want the U.S. to continue supporting the Jewish State."


"Further, and due to the widespread bipartisan support for Israel, Americans widely believe that Israel must be able to take whatever measures are necessary to eliminate terror and that Hamas must not be allowed to govern Gaza following the war..."


"This widespread support for Israel may seem quizzical given the outsized attention to the disruptive — yet very public — anti-Israel protests that have erupted in American cities and on campuses since the war began in October 2023."


"And yet the data, captured routinely since the outbreak of the war, suggest that these protests do not align with the true mood of the American people."

[link removed]
​​​​​​​Read the full op-ed here.

Other notable headlines
-
[link removed]
U.S. envoy fully backs Israeli stance against UNRWA at Security Council meeting


-
[link removed]
White House envoy met senior Palestinian official in Saudi Arabia


-
[link removed]
Saudi-Israel talks nearing breakthrough, says new Israeli ambassador to US

-
[link removed]
U.S., Egyptian security contractors check for weaponry in cars returning to northern Gaza

-
[link removed]
Trump doubles down on proposal to move Gazans; insists Egypt and Jordan will agree


Continue to
[link removed]
follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.

Jake Braunstein

Director of Policy Communications


[link removed]
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.


[link removed]










<!--

-->


<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center">

<br>
<!-- FOOTER CONTENT -->
<tr>
<td style="color:#8a8a8a;"align="center" valign="top" width="100%">
<table class="container" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="600">
<tr>
<td align="center" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: #959595; padding:0px 0px 25px 0px;">

<span>AIPAC<br>
</span>251 H St. NW • Washington D.C. 20001 • TEL 202-639-5200
<br>
<br>
<span style="color:#8a8a8a;"> To Manage Your Email Preferences... <a style="color:#8a8a8a;" href=[link removed] alias="Link">Click Here</a></span>

</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>