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Dear A.,
Hamas is attempting to sabotage the ongoing hostage release negotiations, engaging in "manipulation and psychological warfare,"
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according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office.
Hamas claimed today that it had agreed to release American-Israeli Edan Alexander and the bodies of four murdered dual-national hostages, reportedly the other four Americans still being held in Gaza.
The Prime Minister’s office made clear, however, that Hamas in actuality rejected a U.S.- and Israel-backed proposal recently introduced by White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
Under that proposal, Hamas would release 10 living hostages in exchange for a ceasefire through the end of Passover.
"While Israel has accepted the Witkoff proposal," the Prime Minister’s office said, "Hamas remains firm in its refusal and has not budged one millimeter."
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American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, from Tenafly, NJ, is still held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas’ announcement is likely an
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attempt to drive a wedge between the United States and Israel.
Later today, Witkoff dismissed Hamas' cynical ploy. "Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes," the top Trump aide
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warned .
Responding to a question about the Hamas announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio
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said , "Our priority as the U.S. government is always that we care about all hostages. We want all the hostages released."
Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet with his top advisers and senior ministers tomorrow night to receive a briefing from Israel’s negotiators, who return today from talks in Qatar, and to determine next steps.
59 hostages, including 5 Americans, are still held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza.
The United States must continue to stand unwaveringly with Israel and 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
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A new documentary from Wendy Sachs, that the Academy Awards refused to consider, explains how and why college campuses became a pivotal front in the war against Israel.
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Listen to Dan Senor's conversation with Wendy and one of the experts featured in the film.
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Syrian Druze visit Israel
Dozens of Syrian Druze clerics entered Israel today for their
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first pilgrimage to an important Druze religious site since Israel’s founding.
The delegation of around 60 clerics was due to meet the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Tarif, in northern Israel.
There are about 150,000 Druze in Israel, most holding Israeli citizenship and serving in the IDF. Over the years, including since the fall of Assad, Israel has helped protect and aid the Druze community in Syria.
Dr. Amir Khnifess, chairman of the Druze and Circassian Movement for Democracy and Equality, said that today's visit marked "the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s history with its neighbor."
Israel will prevent future threats from Lebanon
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz
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said today that the IDF would remain deployed at five strategic points in southern Lebanon "indefinitely."
He "clarified that the IDF will remain at the five points that control the buffer zone in Lebanon, indefinitely, for the sake of protecting the residents of the north, and this is without any connection to future negotiations on points of dispute on the border," his office said.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to negotiations earlier this week to resolve their longstanding land border dispute.
Katz' statement comes as the IDF confirmed today carrying out an airstrike against a Hezbollah weapons manufacturing and storage facility in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government appointed Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal as the new commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Haykal previously served as commander of the army sector south of the Litani River, where Hezbollah built much of its terror infrastructure over the past 20 years.
The United States must continue to ensure Israel has the resources needed to defend itself and increase the pressure on Lebanon and Hezbollah to comply with the terms of the ceasefire.
Infiltrators from Jordan arrested by IDF
Last night, the IDF
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arrested several suspects who crossed into Israel from Jordan and exchanged gunfire with Israeli troops.
No casualties were reported by the IDF.
There have been previous attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Israeli territory from Jordan.
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After surviving 505 days in Hamas captivity, Omer Shem Tov takes down his hostage poster in his hometown — alongside Maya and Itay Regev who he was kidnapped with on October 7.
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On October 7, Ben Sochman's mom was murdered at her home on Kibbutz Be'eri. Immediately, Ben — CEO of Be'eri Printers — knew he had to regain control of his community and reopened Be'eri Printers.
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After October 7, Israeli superstar Hagit Yaso and RUN JLM founder Yael Goodman ran all over Israel, helping each other heal and helping other survivors run through their trauma.
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As Israel fights Iran-backed terrorists on multiple fronts, anti-Israel members of Congress are fighting to block Israel from buying the American-made weapons it needs to protect its families.
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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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