Naama Levy, who was freed from Hamas captivity on Saturday, 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 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," 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 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 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. Click here to act now.
Israel to upgrade American-made fighter jets as Iran purchases jets from Russia
The Israeli Defense Ministry 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 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 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.
Defense Minister Israel Katz pictured with IDF troops on Mount Hermon earlier today.
Following the White House's recent announcement of an extension to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah terrorist leader Naim Qassem 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 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 Hillexplains 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."
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