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December 7, 2023
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Information cut-off: As of 4:00 p.m. ET
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We want to wish you a very happy Hanukkah. As we light the candles tonight, let us remember that we as a Jewish community are united, strong, and resilient.
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- Day 62 Hostages Update: Freed Hostages Met With Prime Minister Netanyahu and War Cabinet
This week, freed hostages met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his war cabinet to push for the release of the remaining captives. Many of the freed hostages are worried for the physical and mental state of their family members who are still in captivity. After the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu said “Bringing all of our hostages home is one of the three main goals that we determined for the war, and these goals reinforce each other.”
- Stand Up For Israelis: Join American Jewish Committee (AJC) and other Jewish organizations as we call our members of Congress to stand in solidarity with Israel as it defends itself from terrorism. Call now and share this link with your networks.
- NY Governor Hochul Responds to Shooting at Upstate Synagogue
Today, shots were fired at Temple Israel in Albany, New York. Thankfully, authorities reported no one was killed or wounded, and the suspect was immediately detained. New York Governor Kathy Hochul — who has worked with AJC to be the first governor to adopt the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism in their state — immediately placed the New York National Guard on high alert. Hochul was clear in response when she said, “Make no mistake: The safety of Jewish New Yorkers is non-negotiable. Any act of antisemitism is unacceptable, and undermining public safety at a synagogue on the first night of Hanukkah is even more deplorable.”
- Jewish Leaders from Latin America Adopt Declaration on Antisemitism, Israel, and Democratic Values
This week, AJC’s Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA) hosted a Strategic Forum for Leaders of Ibero-American Jewish Communities in Santiago, Chile. Jewish leaders from across Ibero-America came together during a pivotal time for the Jewish people to address the most pressing hemispheric, global, and Jewish issues, share experiences, and craft joint and effective courses of action. The participants unanimously adopted the Santiago Declaration, which reaffirms the group’s shared commitment to fight antisemitism, stand with Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorism, and uphold democratic values and human rights globally.
- Palestinian Woman in Gaza Tells Reporter Hamas Steals Humanitarian Aid, Israel to Open Kerem Shalom Crossing to Increase Humanitarian Aid for Gazans
In a video posted on social media, a Palestinian woman in Gaza told a reporter that Hamas is stealing all humanitarian aid sent to Gaza saying, “The aid does not reach the nation and [the] entire people.” The woman also said that Hamas would “shoot me and do whatever they want to me.” The IDF posted receipts for luxury jewelry purchased by family members of Hamas leaders, equivalent to multiple years’ salary for the average Gazan resident. In the coming days, Israel will open the Kerem Shalom border crossing for the first time since Hamas’ barbaric slaughter of Israelis. This will increase the number of aid trucks that can enter the Palestinian enclave each day, and all aid trucks will be inspected by Israel.
- How Hamas Exploits the Palestinian People: Since coming to power in a violent coup in 2007, Hamas terrorists have systematically abused Palestinian civilians to build their war machine and further their aim to kill Jews and destroy Israel. Here are seven ways Hamas exploits the Palestinian people.
- War Update: Israeli Civilian Killed by Missile from Lebanon, Hamas Firing Rockets from Gaza Safe Zones, UN Secretary-General Invokes Article 99
Tragically, an Israeli man in his 60s was killed by a missile fired from Lebanon into the northern border town of Mattat today. May his memory be a blessing. Also today, the fighting continued in Khan Younis, a Hamas stronghold in southern Gaza. The IDF says it’s continuing to take out terrorists and their tunnels as the military closes in on the hideouts of key Hamas leaders. A report by The Times of Israel said that videos and photos show dozens of Gazan men, potentially suspected terrorists, have surrendered to the IDF. Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, urging the UN Security Council to act in response to the war in Gaza. Guterres told the Security Council that he believes the war between Israel and Hamas “may aggravate existing threats to the maintenance of international peace and security.” The Security Council is set to meet tomorrow to discuss Guterres’ invocation of the rarely used Article 99. Meanwhile, Hamas continues to put Palestinian civilians in danger by firing rockets from the designated safe zones in Gaza.
- Avital Leibovich’s War Diary: To commemorate two months since Hamas' massacre, AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res.) toured the Nova Festival Commemoration memorial in Tel Aviv. On October 7, terrorists murdered more than 360 innocent civilians at the festival near kibbutz Re’im. Watch the video.
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Hanukkah Heroes Honoring Eight Individuals in the Wake of October 7
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A Hero Behind the Wheel |
Youssef Ziadna has given new meaning to the concept of a “magic bus.” The Bedouin mini-bus driver is credited with saving 30 Jewish Israelis from the attack on the Nova music festival. Once he reached the Sa’ad junction, a mile away from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Ziadna was met by a man who had escaped the attack and frantically signaled to the driver that he should make a U-turn.
Yet Ziadna pushed through, more than doubling the capacity of his 14-passenger van and navigating a flurry of rockets and gunshots along the road to safety. “I had an option to go back,” Ziadna said. “A weaker man may have done a U-turn at that junction. But I said no way, I will throw myself at death if it means I can save lives.”
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