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December 19, 2023
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Information cut-off: As of 3:00 p.m. ET
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- Day 74 Hostages Update: President Herzog Signals Israel Ready for Truce to Free Hostages, Families Meet with UN Ambassador
On Tuesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog told a group of ambassadors from 80 nations that Israel is open to a second pause in the fighting with Hamas in exchange for the release of more hostages. During a seven‐day pause last month, 105 hostages held by the Iran‐backed terror group returned home. This past weekend, American Jewish Committee (AJC) facilitated a meeting between U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas‐Greenfield and families whose loved ones are still being held. It is believed that 129 hostages remain in Gaza — not all of them alive. Eight of the hostages are American.
- U.S. Launches Operation to Defend Red Sea Shipping Lanes from Houthi Attacks
On Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a new maritime task force intended to protect commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea from attacks by Iran‐backed Houthi militants. “The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners and violates international law,” said Austin, who is in the Middle East meeting with leaders from Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain. The new task force — Operation Prosperity Guardian — includes the U.S., the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain.
- The 10/7 Project: New York Times Article Misleads on Americans’ Support for Israel
“Today’s New York Times story about Americans’ views on President Biden’s handling of the Israel‐Hamas war is simply misleading,” said The 10/7 Project Executive Director Josh Isay in a memo to media outlets. “Our review of the most recent publicly available and highly credible national polls on this conflict clearly shows that Americans’ support for Israel remains strong. The American people support Israel’s effort to defeat Hamas.” Throughout the New York Times/Siena survey, the pollster incorrectly asked respondents about their views of the “Israeli‐Palestinian conflict” and the “dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.” Americans hold positive views of Israel and overwhelmingly consider Israel to be an ally of the United States. According to a national poll of U.S. voters conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research in October, 64% have a favorable view of Israel, compared to just 22% who have an unfavorable view. AJC, alongside several Jewish organizations, launched The 10/7 Project to serve as a trusted and timely source of accurate information to set the record straight and combat false narratives perpetuated by Hamas.
- War Update: IDF Kills Hamas’ Top Financier, Hospital Director Confirms Hamas Use, Terrorists Target Tel Aviv in Rocket Attack
Today, the IDF says it killed Subhi Ferwana, a Hamas terrorist responsible for transferring tens of millions of dollars to the terror group and bankrolling its military wing in the Gaza Strip. Also today, Ahmed Khalot, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, revealed that Hamas used the medical complex as an operational hub. This is a war crime. One week ago, the military detained nearly 90 terrorists inside the hospital and seized a stockpile of weapons. Hamas also claimed responsibility for firing rockets at central Israel today, targeting the Tel Aviv area for the first time in a week and prompting warning sirens in south Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Bat Yam. Tragically, this morning, the IDF announced the deaths of two more soldiers, raising Israel’s military casualties to 127 since the onset of the ground operation in Gaza. The latest fallen soldiers are Master Sgt. (res.) Daniel Yacov Ben Harosh, 31, and Cpt. (res.) Rotem Yosef Levy, 24. May their memories be a blessing.
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