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Dear A.,
Today, Hamas announced the names of the three hostages it plans to release tomorrow: American citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, Alexander Trupanov, 29, and Yair Horn, 46.
This announcement follows intense pressure from the United States and Israel after Hamas said that it would violate the agreement by not releasing additional hostages on Saturday.
Sagui is a dual American-Israeli citizen, and one of six Americans still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. He was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. Sagui's wife, Avital, gave birth to their third daughter Shachar in December 2023 — he'll meet his now 14-month-old daughter for the first time tomorrow.
Sasha Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Yair Horn.
Sagui with his wife, Avital, and daughters Bar, 6, and Gali, 2.
Meanwhile, the hostages recently released by Hamas are sharing new horrific stories from their time in captivity.
The mothers of the female IDF soldiers recently released under the current deal
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shared that their daughters were starved, beaten, made to eat donkey food and forced to drink dirty water.
Hamas forced Daniella Gilboa to fake her death for a propaganda video, covering her in powder to make it look like she’d been hit by an IDF airstrike.
The female soldiers were also
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forced to watch videos of Hamas torturing the male hostages held in Gaza.
The full details of the horrors these women experienced on October 7 and during their captivity are still not known.
Watch a CNN interview with the mothers of three of the released hostages below:
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Keith Siegel, an American citizen released two weeks ago,
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said in a video that while held in Gaza he "lived in constant fear, fear for my life and for my personal safety. I was starved and I was tortured, both physically and emotionally... terrorists kicked me, spat on me, and held me with no water, no light and no air to breathe."
76 hostages, including 6 Americans, are still held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza.
The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Iran, Qatar and Turkey to release the hostages.
Continue to follow AIPAC on
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social media for the latest updates.
Shabbat Shalom,
Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications
Shipment of chemicals for missile production arrives in Iran from China
The first of two vessels carrying 1,000 tons of a Chinese-made chemical that is key component for missile fuel
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arrived in Iran yesterday .
The ship left a Chinese port three weeks ago loaded with most of a 1,000-ton shipment of sodium perchlorate. The ship itself and the company that operates the vessel are under U.S. sanctions.
Sodium perchlorate can be converted into another chemical that is a key ingredient for solid rocket fuel. 1,000 tons is enough to create rocket motors for 200 ballistic missiles.
The shipment is a sign that Iran is restoring its missile production after Israel's strikes on key Iranian factories last year.
Iran is selling millions of barrels of oil to China in violation of U.S. sanctions while expanding its missile arsenal and rapidly advancing its nuclear program.
The United States must work with our allies to increase the pressure on the Iranian regime, including by fully enforcing economic sanctions and establishing a credible threat of military action.
Qatari-run Al Jazeera aids Hamas' propaganda efforts
A report published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
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presents a series of documents exchanged between Hamas terrorists in Gaza and producers at the Qatari news network Al Jazeera, exposing their direct communications.
On January 24, Al Jazeera aired a program focusing on the October 7 attack from the perspective of Hamas. It included new details about the attack’s planning, testimonials from Hamas field commanders and operatives, and footage of Hamas leaders Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar, both of whom have now been killed.
The broadcast also emphasized Hamas’ messaging that October 7 was a "religious jihad justified by Islam," and framed it as a historic moment for the Palestinians.
The report concludes that Al Jazeera amplifies Hamas' propaganda and whitewashes Hamas' war crimes under the guise of 'journalism.'
Qatar is a key sponsor of Hamas, providing the terror group with significant funding, sheltering Hamas' leaders, and using its state-run media to spread Hamas' propaganda.
The United States must increase the pressure on Qatar to use its leverage to secure the release of the hostages.
Turkish president accuses U.S. of listening to "Zionist lies"
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
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said that the United States was making "wrong calculations" regarding the Middle East, adding that heeding "Zionist lies" would only exacerbate conflicts.
Turkey has falsely accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, while repeatedly reiterating its support for Hamas.
Just weeks ago, Erdogan welcomed a Hamas delegation to Turkey, meeting with a senior Hamas terrorist indicted by the Justice Department for his role in the October 7 massacre.
The United States must make clear to Turkey that it is unacceptable for a U.S. NATO ally to support and sponsor terrorists responsible for the murder and kidnapping of American citizens.
Plane from Iran prevented from landing at Beirut airport
Following a warning from the IDF, Lebanese authorities refused to allow a plane from
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coming from Iran to land at the Beirut International Airport last night.
Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon proceeded to block roads near the airport, protesting the decision.
The IDF's Arabic spokesman warned Wednesday that Iran had been "exploiting international flights over the past few weeks" by attempting to smuggle money to Hezbollah to help arm them "with the aim of carrying out attacks against the State of Israel."
The United States must increase the pressure on Lebanon and Hezbollah to comply with the ongoing ceasefire, and work to prevent Iran from rearming its proxy.
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Hezbollah supporters set fire to a U.N. peacekeeping vehicle in Lebanon today.
American leaders visiting Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar
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met today with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), calling him a "a steadfast friend of Israel."
The discussed "the legal warfare waged against Israel by the 'international legal institutions.'"
Tomorrow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will leave the Munich Security Conference for a trip to the Middle East,
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visiting Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to help free the Americans and other hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
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After 491 days in Hamas captivity, Or Levy came home. Today, he visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, calling on Hamas to free the remaining 76 hostages. 🎗️
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The mothers of Liri, Daniella, Karina and Naama detail their daughters' incredible survival for the first time and tell of the unbreakable bond they have formed while in Hamas captivity.
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Alon Ohel turned 24 years old in captivity this week. While his family has recieved a sign of life, they know he is in bad condition. #FreeThemAll
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Hamas fired a rocket this week that landed inside the Gaza Strip. Hamas doesn’t care about civilians in Gaza. It only cares about killing Israelis and destroying Israel.
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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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