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Dear A.,
Today marks 500 days since Hamas broke a ceasefire, invaded Israeli communities with thousands of bloodthirsty terrorists, and massacred 1,200 people. Seventy-three men, women, and children are still held hostage in horrific conditions in Gaza, including five Americans.
Tonight, hundreds of Israelis gathered together in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to demand that Hamas free their loved ones from captivity.
“I haven’t breathed properly in 500 days," said Yael Alexander, whose son Edan, a U.S. citizen, is still in the grips of the terrorists. "My Edan has spent 500 days in a dark tunnel under the ground, without sunlight, without the embrace of his mother, not knowing when it will end.”
Emily Damari, who was released last month after being held hostage in UNRWA facilities and denied medical treatment by the terrorists, visited the Western Wall today to pray for those still enduring horrific torture and abuse in Gaza. “In the holiest place for the Jewish people I came to pray for Gali, Ziv and all the hostages who are in Hamas captivity for 500 days. They have to come back as soon as possible,"
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she said .
I encourage you to click the images below to share them on social media.
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Secretary Rubio with PM Netanyahu: Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials yesterday, during his first trip to Israel since assuming his role in the Trump administration.
Speaking at a press conference next to the prime minister, Rubio reaffirmed that Hamas "must be eliminated. It must be eradicated."
He also emphasized that the Iranian regime is at the heart of the threats facing Israel and the United States in the region. "The common theme in all of these challenges is Iran," he said. "It is the single greatest source of instability in the region. Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people who call this region home, is Iran."
"There can never be a nuclear Iran – a nuclear Iran that could then hold itself immune from pressure and from action. That can never happen."
Watch the full press conference below, and
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click here to read a transcript of the remarks.
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National Security Advisor Michael Waltz on Iran: All options on the table
U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz reiterated yesterday that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon" and that President Trump has "expressed a willingness to take whatever action is necessary."
"All options are on the table," Waltz said.
He also reaffirmed the administration's position that a deal with Iran should only happen "if they want to give up their entire program and not play games, as we've seen Iran do in the past."
Watch Waltz's remarks below.
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Reports: Israel preparing to receive bodies of hostages this week
Israel has reportedly begun preparations to receive the
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bodies of four hostages from Gaza on Thursday.
The names of the hostages will be given to Israel on Thursday morning and the bodies will be transported to the Abu Kabir forensic institute by IDF ambulances.
Families will only be updated after the bodies are properly identified, according to Israeli media.
Three living hostages are scheduled to be freed on Saturday, but Israel is reportedly pushing for more than three to be released. Six hostages still slated to be released in the first phase of the deal are believed to be alive.
Brett McGurk op-ed: 'Hamas is playing games with releasing hostages — just like it has been doing since the war began'
In an op-ed for The Washington Post, former deputy assistant to President Biden and White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, reaffirmed that Hamas was to blame for not reaching a deal sooner.
"Throughout the ceasefire negotiations, Hamas consistently held back on a commitment to release hostages and aimed to ensure it remained in power after the war ends," McGurk writes.
"These latest threats are part of the same pattern. President Joe Biden was right to stand firmly by Israel and demand the release of hostages by Hamas. And President Donald Trump is right to do the same."
"While Hamas and its defenders claim it accepted this [current] framework in early July, that is not true. Hamas reinserted demands for a permanent truce. And in those negotiations, it never — not once, even where nearly every other detail seemed locked down — agreed to a list of hostages that it would release if a ceasefire was agreed."
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Read the op-ed here.
IDF to remain in five strategic locations in south Lebanon after Tuesday withdrawal
The IDF confirmed today that Israeli troops will remain deployed in five strategic positions in southern Lebanon after tomorrow's deadline for withdrawal.
Under the
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ceasefire deal brokered in November, Israeli troops will withdraw from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah must move north of the Litani River, and the Lebanese Armed Forces must deploy throughout the area and dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure. The original deadline was extended from January 26 until tomorrow.
The U.S. authorized the IDF to remain in the five locations last week.
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Read more here.
Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.
Cory Meyer
Director of Communications
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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