A hostage deal is "more likely than not," a senior Israeli official told reporters. "I believe a [hostage] deal is attainable. It’s not simple. Negotiating with Hamas isn’t easy or short, and I can’t give a timeline, but it is within reach."
President Trump said yesterday, prior to having dinner with the Qatari prime minister, that, "We have good news on Gaza."
The senior Israeli official added that Hamas may now be more open to the temporary ceasefire framework proposed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff — which was already accepted by Israel — "as a result of intense [Israeli] military pressure and American engagement."
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, speaking to Israeli troops yesterday, said, "In the coming days, we will know whether or not we have an agreement. I want to say to you: if there is a deal and the hostages return, it will be thanks to your combat."
"If no deal is reached, my directive to [IDF] Southern Command is to intensify and expand combat operations as much as possible, beyond what we are currently doing," he added.
The United States must continue to stand with Israel and increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Qatar, Turkey and Iran to release all 50 hostages, including 2 Americans, still held in captivity in Gaza.
Tell Your House Member: Reject Anti-Israel Amendments
Congress is voting soon on four key amendments, including an anti-Israel amendment led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to end U.S. funding for lifesaving missile defense programs like Iron Dome.
Contact your House member now and urge them to reject the anti-Israel amendments and strengthen U.S.-Israel cooperation.
Violence in Syria continues
Despite a ceasefire announced yesterday, violence in Syria is reportedly ongoing, as Syrian Bedouin fighters have launched new attacks against the Druze around Sweida.
Israeli Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muafak Tarif, in an interview on Israeli radio, said of the attacks on the Druze in Syria:
"What happened in Syria? They raped a five-year-old girl, they entered a holy place where women were hiding to avoid being harmed, and they burned them alive. They killed, beheaded, it was pure cleansing. This is only because they are Druze and do not believe as they do.
"We’ve seen this movie with Hamas, they are the same people, let’s not get confused. They didn’t let ambulances pass; the bodies were in the streets."
Tarif added that he spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu and senior defense officials.
In a video statement outlining Israel's actions in Syria, Netanyahu said:
"I would like to share with you something that touched me deeply over the past two days. I received a message from Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the leader of the Druze community in Israel. He told me the following: 'During the Holocaust, when you were being slaughtered, you, the Jews, cried for help and no one came. Today we, the Druze, are being slaughtered and we are calling for the help of the State of Israel.'
"I told him that he's right.
"We have taken action, and we will continue to take action as necessary."
Israeli strikes against Hezbollah
The IDF today carried out drone strikes in southern Lebanon to eliminate two Hezbollah terrorists.
One strike targeted a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force and another targeted a Hezbollah operative who was working to restore the terror group’s capabilities.
The IDF says the terrorists' activities "constituted a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."
The United States must continue to ensure our ally has the resources and support needed to defend its people against Hezbollah and enforce the November 2024 ceasefire agreement.
Israel to increase missile interceptor production
The Israeli Defense Ministry plans to significantly increase the production of Arrow missile defense interceptors.
The Arrow system was essential to defending against Iran's ballistic missile attacks, saving countless lives and preventing billions in property damage. During the 12-day war, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, 86% of which were successfully intercepted.
Congress has invested more than $4.5 billion in the Arrow system since the 1990s thanks to the lobbying efforts of AIPAC and pro-Israel Americans.
The U.S. and Israel together expended about 200 missile interceptors to defend against the recent Iranian attacks.
Meanwhile, a residential building near Tel Aviv hit by one of the Iranian ballistic missiles has begun to be demolished.
A total of 22 buildings are set to be demolished as a result of the Iranian attacks.
U.S. supports Gaza Humanitarian Foundation amid media attacks
Speaking at the United Nations, the U.S. representative reaffirmed America's support for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF):
"The GHF is a results-focused alternative to a broken aid system, following through on President Trump’s commitment to feed Gaza’s civilians without supporting Hamas or prolonging the conflict.
"The United States supports creative solutions that securely provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza without supporting Hamas or other terrorist organizations...
"We urge Council members to join us in supporting the work of the GHF as it delivers lifesaving aid to civilians on the ground."
Meanwhile, a new study states that major Western news outlets have "served as uncritical megaphones for Hamas-linked narratives during the war with Israel in Gaza, amplifying claims that ultimately undermined a U.S.-backed food relief operation while shielding the terrorist group from scrutiny," Fox News reports.
This includes promoting false narratives about GHF. Rev. Johnnie Moore, president of GHF, said in response:
"On one level, I wasn’t surprised by the findings because I’ve been experiencing the effect of these lies for weeks. But — on the other hand — I was shocked by the sheer scale of it all. Let’s be clear: media outlets in the United States, the UK, and in continental Europe are literally doing the work of terrorists. They have become the default press secretaries for designated terrorist organizations. As absurd as that sounds, that’s exactly what has happened."
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.
