In response to the crisis facing Israel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has allocated $250,000 to the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to support critical services that our international partners are providing to Israelis in need. An additional $100,000 has been allocated according to recommendations by Federation’s Israel & Overseas Committee that the Federation Board approved October 20. Grants of $20,000 each were approved for Leket Israel, Selah, Natal, Ofakim Municipality, and Sderot Foundation to meet emergency needs.
One hundred percent of funds given through JFNA will be used to respond to the emergency. JFNA has so far allocated $70 million to the Jewish Agency for Israel, Joint Distribution Committee and 43 other organizations. The list of grantees will continue to evolve as needs become clearer in this unprecedented and complex situation.
JFNA has professional staff on the ground in Israel working in collaboration with their seasoned allocations committee to ensure that funds are used in the most effective and meaningful way.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is keeping our Puget Sound Jewish community updated on fast-moving developments in Israel’s war with Hamas.
Your Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its Jewish Community Relations Council support a peaceful, secure, Jewish, and democratic State of Israel. We believe Israel, as a sovereign nation, has the right and obligation to defend and protect all its people from attacks and acts of aggression. We mourn the loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives and the enormous suffering and human toll of the conflict.
Island Books is donating a portion of proceeds of today’s (November 27) sales to the Israel Emergency Fund. Island Books is open until 6 pm today, so there’s still time to visit the store and buy some books to help our mishpacha (family) in Israel. Many thanks to Laurie Raisys and the entire Island Books team for their generosity!
Terra Bella on Mercer Island will donate a portion of its December 6 sales proceeds to the Israel Emergency Fund. Looking for that special item for your kitchen or a Hanukkah gift? Shop at Terra Bella on December 6 and help raise funds for Israel. Many thanks to Nancy Meade and the entire Terra Bella team for their generosity!
Join JFNA for an informative training session to share best practices and learn from other communities that are fighting anti-Zionism and antisemitism in K-12 schools.
Tuesday, November 28 | 9 am – 10 am PT | Register
Take part in a rally on Mercer Island, with a march over I-90, to support Israel, call for the release of all the remaining hostages, and march against antisemitism. Join the Washingtonians for Israel WhatsApp group to find out more about the event and to be notified of the exact location.
Sunday, December 3 | 12 pm
Urge Congress to find a path forward to approving legislation to provide critical defense aid to Israel and Ukraine and to increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that helps keep our community safe.
Urge the U.S. Department of Education to keep Jewish students on college campuses safe from rampant antisemitic and anti-Israel hostility.
The horrific terrorist attacks on our Jewish homeland have caused terrible harm to our mishpacha. To rally our community in support, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle launched an Israel Emergency Fund for our community to raise funds locally to support the imperative work of our international partners through the Jewish Federations of North America. JFNA is the national organization best equipped to assess needs holistically and ensure dollars are put to the most effective use.
One hundred percent of all funds raised locally will go directly to our partners in the field to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack. Your donation helps provide immediate assistance ranging from basic needs to evacuation housing, care, and aid to the most vulnerable.
We are one community, standing with Israel, coming together at this urgent time.
Let’s do this!
If you witness any antisemitic incidents, please report them as soon as possible to SAFE Washington and ADL.
President Joe Biden said today the pause in the Israel-Hamas war has been extended by an additional two days. Read a statement from President Biden on this latest development.
A total of more than 50 hostages have been released from captivity in Gaza as part of the deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by Qatar with assistance from the U.S. and Egypt. The freed hostages have mainly been young children, their mothers, and elderly women. In addition to the released Israelis, 18 foreign laborers, mainly from Thailand, also have been released.
In exchange, Israel has released 117 terrorists from prison, all women and under-18 minors, many serving sentences for terror attacks. An additional 33 were set to be released today. Israel has indicated it would agree to extend the pause in fighting by one day for every 10 hostages released from captivity.
See details, photos, and videos of freed hostages being reunited with their families.
Despite the deal stipulating that minor children would be released with their mothers, 13-year-old Hila Rotem was freed Saturday evening without her mother. Hila said her mother was present with her during their captivity, except for the last two days, when Hamas separated them.
Most of the released hostages were in reasonable health, although many had lost a lot of weight. Read this Times of Israel article about conditions they faced during captivity, including irregular meals and long waits to use a bathroom.
As part of the deal to release hostages, the IDF has paused all operations in Gaza, including a six-hour period each day when drone movements over Gaza are suspended. The IDF has indicated it will resume military operations after the pause expires.
Just before the pause took effect, the IDF confirmed its arrest of the Shifa Hospital’s director. The IDF said the director was taken into custody for questioning following evidence showing that the hospital under his management served as a Hamas command-and-control center. An underground tunnel and numerous supply caches belonging to Hamas have been found in the hospital since the IDF entered the building last week.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Gaza, where he received briefings from commanders and soldiers and visited one of the tunnels the IDF discovered.
The IDF coordinated the entry of 200 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza, 42 of which were loaded with shelter equipment. See photos of aid trucks. Over 2,000 trucks have entered Gaza since the start of the war to transfer water, food, medical supplies, and other equipment.
Hezbollah is not a party to the Israel-Hamas deal, but has refrained from firing rockets into Israel from Lebanon since the pause in fighting began.
President Biden telephoned relatives of 4-year-old Israeli-American Avigail Idan, who was freed on Sunday over seven weeks after Hamas terrorists murdered her parents in front of her in Kibbutz Kfar Azza.
Tech leader and X owner Elon Musk arrived in Israel today to meet with Israeli leaders and victims of the October 7 terrorist attacks. With Prime Minister Netanyahu, Musk visited Kibbutz Kfar Azza and was shown some of the horrors of the attacks.
We are saddened and devastated to see the horrific expression of hatred against the Jewish people this morning at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island (HNT). This vandalism is a visual representation of the growing dehumanization of Jews and a stark reminder of the antisemitic bigotry and hatred increasing in our country today — the shockwaves from which are reverberating across our Puget Sound Jewish community.
HNT is a sacred place of worship and gathering. A place where preschoolers learn their first Hebrew words, where our children become b’nai mitzvah, where couples begin their family journeys as they unite in marriage, and where the community gathers to grieve and remember loved ones who have passed. Just like any other religious institution, HNT should stand as a safe haven for the Jewish community. Words alone cannot express the hurt and expression of hatred that has now tarnished this holy place.
Despite the vandals’ efforts, the support HNT has received from the Jewish community and our allies has been widespread. We welcome these expressions of solidarity. They strengthen our resolve to stand together and make sure that all of us can be safe in our houses of worship.
HNT and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle yearn for a time soon when lasting peace will be possible and a world where all Jews, Muslims, Israelis, and Palestinians can live in safety and freedom.
Jacob Herber, Rabbi, HNT
Mickey Friedman, Board Chair, HNT
Merav Canaan, Executive Director, HNT
Dr. Audrey Covner, Chair, JCRC
Max Patashnik, Director, JCRC
The JCRC of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is a network of 35 local Jewish organizations and about 30 independent leaders, who, together, advocate for and support our organized Jewish community, build bridges with other religious and ethnic groups, and work on issues of core importance to the Jewish community like combating antisemitism, racism, and bigotry and supporting a secure, Jewish, and democratic state of Israel.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is keeping our Puget Sound Jewish community updated on fast-moving developments in Israel’s war with Hamas.
Your Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its Jewish Community Relations Council support a peaceful, secure, Jewish, and democratic State of Israel. We believe Israel, as a sovereign nation, has the right and obligation to defend and protect all its people from attacks and acts of aggression. We mourn the loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives and the enormous suffering and human toll of the conflict.
Thank you to the over 1,600 community members who asked the Seattle City Council to hold off considering resolutions on the Israel-Hamas war and antisemitism without meaningful engagement with leadership of the Jewish community. Many thanks also to the 58 organizational leaders who signed the JCRC’s letter to the council on this issue. Unfortunately, the council passed an amended version of the resolution yesterday. We appreciated that the approved substitute resolution that was proposed by Council Members Mosqueda, Herbold, and Juarez attempted to strike a different tone than the resolution put forward by Council Member Sawant, but the underlying exclusion and erasure of mainstream Jewish institutional voices from the process remains troubling and true.
Click here to see the full text of the e-blast the JCRC sent to our community earlier today reporting on yesterday’s Seattle City Council action. Thank you again for your support!
As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, our hearts are heavy with the events unfolding in Israel and around the world. Even in the darkest times, it’s important to remain thankful for our blessings. This Thanksgiving, reserve an empty chair at your table to show your commitment to keeping the issue of hostages in Gaza in our hearts and homes. Visit www.seatsofhope.net to learn more.
Go book shopping at Island Books on Monday, November 27! Island Books will donate a portion of proceeds of all November 27 sales to the Israel Emergency Fund. Many thanks to Laurie Raisys and the entire Island Books team for their generosity!
Join JFNA for an informative training session to share best practices and learn from other communities that are fighting anti-Zionism and antisemitism in K-12 schools.
Tuesday, November 28 | 9 am – 10 am PT | Register
The horrific terrorist attacks on our Jewish homeland have caused terrible harm to our mishpacha. To rally our community in support, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle launched an Israel Emergency Fund for our community to raise funds locally to support the imperative work of our international partners through the Jewish Federations of North America. JFNA is the national organization best equipped to assess needs holistically and ensure dollars are put to the most effective use.
One hundred percent of all funds raised locally will go directly to our partners in the field to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack. Your donation helps provide immediate assistance ranging from basic needs to evacuation housing, care, and aid to the most vulnerable.
We are one community, standing with Israel, coming together at this urgent time.
Let’s do this!
If you witness any antisemitic incidents, please report them as soon as possible to SAFE Washington and ADL.
A four-day pause in fighting is due to go into effect on Thursday following the Israeli government’s approval overnight of a limited agreement for Hamas to free at least 50 women and children held hostage in Gaza. The 50 to be released beginning Thursday at 10 am Israel Standard Time (12 am PST) include 30 children, eight mothers and 12 elderly women whose lives are considered at risk. Read here about the children. All 50 hold Israeli citizenship.
In exchange, Israel will release 150 terrorists from a list of 300. None of those to be released have been convicted of murder. Nearly all of the 300, a total of 287, are males ages 18 and under. Most are being held for rioting and rock-throwing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The other 13 are adult women, most convicted of attempted terror stabbing.
Under the deal, Hamas will allow Red Cross representatives to visit the hostages who will remain in captivity and supply them with medicine. Fuel can enter Gaza during the pause.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deal as “difficult but correct.” President Isaac Herzog said, “This is a moral and ethical duty that correctly expresses the Jewish and Israeli value of securing the freedom of those held captive, with the hope that it will be the first step in returning all the hostages home. The State of Israel, the IDF, and all the security forces will continue to act in every way possible to achieve this goal, alongside the restoration of the absolute security of the citizens of Israel.”
Negotiation of the agreement was brokered by Qatar, with assistance from the U.S., Egypt, and others.
Despite the upcoming temporary cease-fire, the IDF continues to operate in Gaza. Overnight, troops destroyed several Hamas observation posts and found a weapons cache inside a home. The Israeli Navy carried out strikes against Hamas sites on the Gaza coast.
The IDF announced that it has destroyed approximately 400 terror tunnel shafts. Watch this video clip of the destruction of tunnel shafts.
See this IDF brief, with infographic, on how Hamas turned hospitals into terror centers.
Twenty-nine premature Palestinian babies arrived in Egypt on Monday after they were evacuated from Shifa Hospital. The babies were evacuated with Israeli assistance after troops took control of the hospital over the weekend. Watch a video clip of the evacuation.
The IDF reported that 70 Israeli soldiers have been killed in action since the ground offensive began and 390 soldiers since October 7. See a list of the fallen soldiers here (in Hebrew).
In another sign of deep U.S. involvement in the region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel early next week.
About 300 United Nations diplomats viewed a screening at U.N. headquarters of footage showing terrorist atrocities on October 7. The footage, compiled by the IDF and with uncensored, difficult-to-watch scenes taken from Hamas bodycams, was organized by the Israeli Mission to the U.N. The footage will not be made public.
Israel’s coalition government has announced it will propose legislation to enshrine the status of Israel’s Druze community. Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior figures said they would look for a way to complement the 2018 Basic Law: Nation-State of the Jewish People, which the Druze community has said marginalizes them.
A new settlement to be built in the Negev will be named after Ofir Liebstein, former head of the Saar Negev Regional Council, who was murdered during the October 7 massacre while trying to save his neighbors.
The Jewish Federations of North America have raised more than $659 million and allocated nearly $200 million to a broad range of humanitarian organizations in Israel. See the latest impact stats in this video.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is keeping our Puget Sound Jewish community updated on fast-moving developments in Israel’s war with Hamas.
Your Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its Jewish Community Relations Council support a peaceful, secure, Jewish, and democratic State of Israel. We believe Israel, as a sovereign nation, has the right and obligation to defend and protect all its people from attacks and acts of aggression. We mourn the loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives and the enormous suffering and human toll of the conflict.
The Jewish Federations of North America thanks all who took part in the November 14 March for Israel to send a powerful message of solidarity to the nation and the world.
(Photo: JFNA, Allison Shelley)
Seattle City Council Members Kshama Sawant and Teresa Mosqueda have proposed two separate resolutions on the Israel-Hamas war without any meaningful effort to engage with leaders of the Jewish community, which has been deeply and personally impacted by both measures.
Please contact the Seattle City Council today. Urge them not to bring forward CM Sawant’s or CM Mosqueda’s resolutions that relate to the war between Israel and Hamas until there has been a meaningful effort to engage Jewish communal leadership.
Tell the Seattle City Council: Don’t make decisions about us without us. Click here to send your message to the Council.
Go book shopping at Island Books on Monday, November 27! Island Books will donate a portion of proceeds of all November 27 sales to the Israel Emergency Fund. Many thanks to Laurie Raisys and the entire Island Books team for their generosity!
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and Congregation Beth Shalom invite you to join us for Beyond Words: A Rising Song Gathering. In these difficult times, nigunim—wordless melodies—can be a container for the yearnings of our hearts. Come together in participatory, heart-opening song with Hadar’s Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz and Chava Mirel. All are welcome.
Monday, November 27 | 7:30 pm – 9 pm (doors open at 7 pm) | Congregation Beth Shalom | Register Here
The entertainment brand Variety has partnered with JLTV to air a one-hour panel discussion with some of Hollywood’s greatest storytellers, including Josh Malina, actor in Inventing Anna and The West Wing; Alana Newhouse, founder and editor-in-chief of Tablet, Will & Grace executive producer David Kohan, and Greg Berlanti, executive producer of You and The Flight Attendant. JLTV is available in the greater Seattle area via DirecTV. Comcast customers in the greater Seattle area may access JLTV through Xumo (Channel 561).
Also broadcasting at various days and times November 21 through December 2. Click here to find out more.
UnXeptable Seattle will host a Zoom meeting with prominent Israeli journalist Amir Tibon, a resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz who survived the horror of the October 7 attack and will share his story with our community.
Tuesday, November 21 | 12 pm | Register
Join JFNA for an informative training session to share best practices and learn from other communities that are fighting anti-Zionism and antisemitism in K-12 schools.
Tuesday, November 28 | 9 am – 10 am PT | Register
You can watch the November 14 discussion at Temple De Hirsch Sinai here. With Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai; Max Patashnik, Federation Director of JCRC & Government Affairs; Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO of Jewish Family Service; and Rivy Kletenik, former Head of School at Seattle Hebrew Academy.
Urge the U.S. Department of Education to keep Jewish students on college campuses safe from rampant antisemitic and anti-Israel hostility.
The horrific terrorist attacks on our Jewish homeland have caused terrible harm to our mishpacha. To rally our community in support, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle launched an Israel Emergency Fund for our community to raise funds locally to support the imperative work of our international partners through the Jewish Federations of North America. JFNA is the national organization best equipped to assess needs holistically and ensure dollars are put to the most effective use.
One hundred percent of all funds raised locally will go directly to our partners in the field to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack. Your donation helps provide immediate assistance ranging from basic needs to evacuation housing, care, and aid to the most vulnerable.
We are one community, standing with Israel, coming together at this urgent time.
Let’s do this!
If you witness any antisemitic incidents, please report them as soon as possible to SAFE Washington and ADL.
Show your support for the immediate safe return of all hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists. Click here to find out more and get your blue ribbon.
As the ground operation continues, IDF forces continue to find weapons that Hamas had hidden in civilian locations, including a high school where soldiers found weapons and ammunition after a fierce battle with terrorists at the school.
For the first time since the fighting began, a mixed-gender IDF unit has been operating in Gaza. Watch a video clip with Lt. Col. Yarden, the unit commander (Hebrew with English subtitles).
The director of Gaza’s Shifa Hospital has requested IDF assistance in evacuating patients from the hospital. The Israeli military has provided humanitarian aid to the hospital and will assist in evacuating patients.
Meanwhile, the IDF disclosed videos showing Hamas bringing two foreign hostages, a Thai man and Nepalese man. Watch this clip of Hamas terrorists dragging a man into one of the hospital entrances, clearly against his will. The videos were obtained from internal hospital CCTV footage.
President Joe Biden received a vote of confidence in his support of Israel’s fight against Hamas from more than 100 former senior Democratic defense and foreign policy officials.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to increasing international pressure when he said Israel will not back down from rooting out Hamas, bringing back the hostages, and ensuring that Israel is never again threatened from Gaza. Read Netanyahu’s full remarks here (in English).
While reports persist of an imminent deal on some hostages, no formal announcement has been made. According to media reports, the deal would involve freeing around 50 hostages (comprising women, children, and some non-Israeli nationals), in exchange for an unknown number of Hamas prisoners, alongside a three- to five-day cease-fire.
Israel continues to mourn the victims of the October 7 massacre and soldiers who have fallen in the fighting. The IDF reports that 67 soldiers have been killed in action since the ground offensive began and 387 since October 7. See a list of all soldiers who have fallen here (in Hebrew).
Read the heartbreaking story of Yuval Braon and Moshe Shuva, an engaged couple who were planning to wed in February. They were murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova Rave.
Watch this uplifting message from Israeli teens and young adults thanking you for standing up for Israel.
Since October 7, the Jewish Agency for Israel’s response has included:
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is keeping our Puget Sound Jewish community updated on fast-moving developments in Israel’s war with Hamas.
Your Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its Jewish Community Relations Council support a peaceful, secure, Jewish, and democratic State of Israel. We believe Israel, as a sovereign nation, has the right and obligation to defend and protect all its people from attacks and acts of aggression. We mourn the loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives and the enormous suffering and human toll of the conflict.
Presented by your Jewish Federation in partnership with the Stroum Jewish Community Center
A Single Tree. 242 plants, herbs, and flowers surrounding it. A Circle of Life. Passageways allow guests to leave a message on our Community Wishing Tree—as we stand in solidarity with Israel and one another. Join us at any or all of the events taking place November 18 & 19 at the Stroum Jewish Community Center. All events free of charge.
Go book shopping at Island Books on Monday, November 27! Island Books will donate a portion of proceeds of all November 27 sales to the Israel Emergency Fund. Many thanks to Laurie Raisys and the entire Island Books team for their generosity!
This Shabbat, November 17-18, join millions of Jews, and those in solidarity with the Jewish community, in lighting a memorial candle in honor of those who were murdered in Israel and those who gave their lives fighting for the Jewish state.
Across America, American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) are uniting the Jewish community to stand with Israel following the horrific Hamas attack—the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
In addition to calling on all American Jews—and all allies of the Jewish community—to light a memorial candle, we also encourage everyone to:
Additional Shabbat resources for this Unity Shabbat can be found here.
You can also show unity by:
Find additional resources for Unity Shabbat here.
Join StandWithUs Northwest and 14 other local Jewish organizations at a rally in support of Israel. Join the Washingtonians for Israel WhatsApp group to be notified of rally updates.
Sunday, November 19 | 12 pm | Marina Park Pavilion – Kirkland
The entertainment brand Variety has partnered with JLTV to air a one-hour panel discussion with some of Hollywood’s greatest storytellers, including Josh Malina, actor in Inventing Anna and The West Wing; Alana Newhouse, founder and editor-in-chief of Tablet, Will & Grace executive producer David Kohan, and Greg Berlanti, executive producer of You and The Flight Attendant. JLTV is available in the greater Seattle area via DirecTV. Comcast customers in the greater Seattle area may access JLTV through Xumo (Channel 561).
Sunday, November 19 | 9 pm
Also broadcasting at various days and times November 21 through December 2. Click here to find out more.
UnXeptable Seattle will host a Zoom meeting with prominent Israeli journalist Amir Tibon, a resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz who survived the horror of the October 7 attack and will share his story with our community.
Tuesday, November 21 | 12 pm | Register
You can watch the November 14 discussion at Temple De Hirsch Sinai here. With Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai; Max Patashnik, Federation Director of JCRC & Government Affairs; Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO of Jewish Family Service; and Rivy Kletenik, former Head of School at Seattle Hebrew Academy.
Urge the U.S. Department of Education to protect Jewish students on college campuses safe from rampant antisemitic and anti-Israel hostility.
The horrific terrorist attacks on our Jewish homeland have caused terrible harm to our mishpacha. To rally our community in support, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has launched an Israel Emergency Fund for our community to raise funds locally to support the imperative work of our international partners through the Jewish Federations of North America. JFNA is the national organization best equipped to assess needs holistically and ensure dollars are put to the most effective use.
One hundred percent of all funds raised locally will go directly to our partners in the field to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack. Your donation helps provide immediate assistance ranging from basic needs to evacuation housing, care, and aid to the most vulnerable.
We are one community, standing with Israel, coming together at this urgent time.
Let’s do this!
If you witness any antisemitic incidents, please report them as soon as possible to SAFE Washington and ADL.
Show your support for the immediate safe return of all hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists. Click here to find out more and get your blue ribbon.
As the ground war continues in Gaza, the IDF reports that its forces are close to achieving their goal of destroying Hamas operations in the northern Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the IDF has eliminated all terrorist threats from the western side of Gaza City. Read here about possible next steps for the Israeli offensive.
Watch this 7-minute video with an IDF representative describing, in English, the IDF’s discovery of weapons stored in the MRI department of Shifa hospital.
At a White House press briefing yesterday, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said, “We have our own intelligence that convinces us that Hamas is using Al-Shifa as a command-and-control node and most likely as a storage facility, and that they were sheltering themselves in the hospital, using the hospital as a shield against military action and placing the patients and medical staff at greater risk.”
Read here how the IDF uses robots and other tactics to wage war on Hamas tunnels.
A pregnant Israeli woman kidnapped by Hamas has given birth in Gaza, according to a letter sent by Sara Netanyahu to First Lady Jill Biden. Netanyahu also sent letters to spouses of other world leaders. Read more here.
In an interview with CBS News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would consider a “temporary cease-fire” only if Hamas frees hostages.
The IDF reported that 51 soldiers have been killed in action since the ground offensive began. See details of the fallen soldiers here (in Hebrew). Israel continues to mourn victims of the October 7 massacre and soldiers who have fallen in the fighting, and to demand return of the hostages.
In its empty dining hall, Kibbutz Nir Oz survivors set places for the 38 killed and 75 hostages from among its members. Read more here.
President Joe Biden yesterday said, “With regard to when is this going to stop, I think it’s going to stop when Hamas no longer maintains the capacity to murder and abuse and just do horrific things to the Israelis.”
The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) continues to source critically needed supplies for local emergency response units in towns close to Israel’s borders, including burn treatment, IV, first aid, and life support kits.
Four hundred youth counselors doing National Service are receiving JDC training to provide educational activities for evacuated children living in hotels.
Twenty Bedouins with disabilities are benefiting from an online support group opened by JDC and partners. Five hundred kits with toys and craft materials are being distributed to Bedouin families with small children. These families live in villages with no sheltered spaces and face the ongoing threat of rocket fire, and need help keeping kids who are still not in school engaged.
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