The IDF on Sunday announced that it killed Hamas' chief spokesman, known as Abu Obeida, in an airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday.
The IDF said Obeida "led propaganda and psychological terror campaigns, spreading footage of abducted Israeli civilians and soldiers and atrocities of the October 7th Massacre" and "distributed incitement videos across the Arab world & among the Palestinian public encouraging them to commit similar acts of terrorism, and coordinating messaging across Hamas’ military wing."
Additionally, earlier today, the IDF announced it killed Hazem Awni Naeem, a Hamas terrorist who was responsible for holding female hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Naama Levy in captivity.
Naeem "was a senior operative in the military intelligence of the brigade and was close with the commander of the [Hamas] Gaza City brigade," the IDF said.
Both Obeida and Naeem were eliminated in Gaza City — one of the last remaining Hamas strongholds where the IDF is currently expanding its operations to increase the military pressure on Hamas and free the hostages.
The IDF today called up tens of thousands of reservists for military service, with 40,000-50,000 ordered to show up for duty today, as it prepares to fully conquer Gaza City.
Meanwhile, the IDF on Saturday announced that the second hostage body recovered from Gaza the previous day belonged to Idan Shtivi, who was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7.
"Idan was a student in sustainability and government and a brave person: On 7 October 2023, he participated in the Nova festival. When the terrorist attack began, he acted to save many fellow participants and help them escape, and was murdered in the process," Prime Minister Netanyahu said following the announcement.
"Together with the entire people of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Shtivi family... We will continue to take relentless and determined action, in various ways, to bring back all of our hostages, the living and the deceased."
Hamas could end the war today if it would lay down its arms, release the hostages, and surrender. Instead, it is prolonging the suffering of Israelis and Palestinian alike.
The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Qatar, Turkey and Iran to release the hostages.
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Confirmed: Houthi PM killed in Israeli strike
The Houthis confirmed on Saturday that the group's prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, was killed in the Israeli strike last week.
The confirmation comes as a report in Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that said the remaining Houthi leadership was currently in an "unprecedented state of confusion and panic" after the IDF strike last week.
The Houthis — whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse upon the Jews” — have been attacking Israel, U.S. Navy vessels and international maritime traffic since November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre.
Meanwhile, the Houthis on Sunday raided several U.N. offices in Yemen, including those of the World Food Program, and detained at least 11 U.N. employees.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Houthis' "forced entry into the premises of the World Food Program, the seizure of U.N. property and attempts to enter other U.N. premises in Sanaa," and called for the immediate and unconditional release of U.N. employees.
Israel carries out strike in Lebanon
Israel on Sunday carried out a series of major airstrikes targeting Hezbollah bunkers in southern Lebanon.
"The existence of the sites and the activity within them constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the IDF said.
Hezbollah is actively working to rebuild its terror infrastructure and weapons arsenal, and has repeatedly stated that it will not willingly give up its weapons.
Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah, criticized U.S.-backed efforts to to quickly to disarm the terror group, saying that it should be done "within the framework of a calm and consensual dialogue."
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.
