Urgent Support for Israel:
On October 7th, 2023, Israel faced a dire situation as Hamas terrorists invaded it in a shocking and unprecedented attack. The consequences have been heartbreaking, with hundreds of Israelis tragically losing their lives and thousands more injured. Tragically, many Israelis, including parents, children, and seniors, have been abducted and forcibly taken to Gaza. The Club ISJCC ready to respond quickly, drawing on our infrastructure, expertise, and extensive reach.
We urge you to stand with Israel and make a meaningful impact.
Your contributions will be allocated to a range of crucial efforts:
- Safe Evacuation: Ensuring the safe evacuation of children, families, and vulnerable populations in conflict zones.
- Aid Distribution: Providing food and financial aid to families in need, especially the elderly and homebound.
- Support for Frontline Communities: Assisting frontline communities with evacuation, housing, respite, and increased security.
- Aid for Victims: Offering immediate cash grants for post-trauma care, home rebuilding, and essential expenses for terror victims.
- Trauma Relief: Providing trauma relief and psychosocial care through telephone hotlines.
- Assistance for First Responders: Extending assistance to first responders, Lone Soldiers, the injured, and families affected by violence.
Partner Agencies Receiving Funding:
- The Club ISJCC Fund for Victims of Terror: The Club ISJCC supports families and individuals affected by terror with housing, bills, food, medical supplies, and more. They also ensure the safety of Olim (new immigrants) in multiple centers, assist residents of Amigour senior housing, and support Masa participants and at-risk youth.
- Israel Trauma Coalition: The Israel Trauma Coalition collaborates closely with the IDF’s Home Front Command and local authorities to address immediate psychosocial needs, offering critical support to those affected by trauma.
- United Hatzalah: United Hatzalah is a renowned volunteer-based emergency medical service organization known for its rapid response and critical care services.
- Magen David Adom: Magen David Adom is Israel’s national emergency medical service, providing ambulance, blood, and first-aid services.
- ZAKA: ZAKA is a volunteer-based organization specializing in search, rescue, and recovery efforts, particularly in the aftermath of tragic events.
- Barzilai Medical Center: Barzilai Medical Center plays a crucial role in providing medical care and support to those affected by the conflict.
- Soroka Medical Center: Soroka Medical Center is another esteemed medical institution offering vital healthcare services during The Club ISJCC does not deduct administrative fees from your donations.
- JDC (Joint Distribution Committee): JDC assists those directly in the line of fire, including the elderly, people with disabilities, at-risk children and families, and vulnerable populations.
CURRENT UPDATES
Update from The Club ISJCC
December 14, 2023
Please join The Club ISJCC team for a conversation on how Israeli women’s organizations are partnering to meet immediate needs for women and girls and to advocate for their rights. We will also hear from members of Israel’s Civil Commission of Oct. 7. The War’s Impact on Women in Israel. Tuesday, December 19, 1pm ET. Register here.
THE LATEST
As fighting continues, additional IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 116, (and to 442 since October 7). Among those who fell yesterday was American-Israeli Elisha Loewernstern, a young father of six (and a friend and neighbor of this writer). May his memory (and those of all the fallen), be for a blessing. See details of all the fallen soldiers here.
ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES (IDF) OPERATIONS
Fierce fighting continues in both northern and southern Gaza. See this summary and statement in English about the latest fighting, by an IDF spokesperson.
Earlier today, IDF troops operated in the Kamal Adwan Hospital area with the Shin Bet, and dozens of Hamas terrorists were killed or detained. During the operation, the IDF troops located a building close to the hospital that was being used by Hamas terrorists. An exchange of fire took place, in which a number of Hamas terrorists were killed. Some 70 terrorists surrendered and left the building with their weapons and were detained and taken for interrogation by the Shin Bet.
According to one report, the IDF has started pumping seawater into Hamas’s underground tunnel system in Gaza, a move aimed at destroying the Palestinian terror group’s subterranean network of passages and hideaways and driving its operatives above ground. Read more.
The military has placed a bounty on Hamas leaders, with fliers dropped in Gaza offering money for information on the whereabouts of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other commanders in the terror group. The pamphlet promises Gazans $400,000 for information on Hamas’s Gaza leader Sinwar; $300,000 for information on his brother, Muhammed Sinwar, who commands the terror group’s southern brigade; $200,000 for information on Rafaa Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis battalion; and $100,000 for information on Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.
Funerals were held Wednesday in Israel for troops killed in Gaza’s Shejaiya neighborhood the previous day, in an ambush using remotely detonated explosive devices. Nine IDF soldiers were killed, including a Battalion Commander from the Golani Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Tomer Grinberg (35), and two of his Company Commanders. When the explosive device was detonated, the force was split and rescue forces from the Air Force Search and Rescue Unit arrived on the scene. Hamas terrorists then ambushed the rescue forces, killing a Company Commander and a soldier from the unit. The battle in Shejaiya was one of the most deadly encounters since the beginning of the Israeli ground incursion.
ROCKETS
Hamas rocket attacks on Israel remain far lower than earlier in the war, but continue to strike Israeli cities on an almost daily basis. Most rockets are intercepted by Iron Dome, but even in these cases, fragments sometimes fall causing considerable damage. See this intercepted rocket that landed in an Ashdod supermarket yesterday.
In the north, Hezbollah also continues its medium-level of rocket and other fire against Israeli targets.
In the Red Sea, Israel and the United States military continue to shoot down missiles fired at commercial shipping vessels, by Iran-back Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said that the Houthis have crossed a red line.
Watch this footage of the Iron Dome operating to intercept incoming Hamas rockets and protect Israeli civilian targets.
HOSTAGES
The IDF announced on Tuesday that it had recovered the bodies of civilian Eden Zacharia and IDF Warrant Officer Ziv Dado, who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.
Some Israeli media is reporting that there are initial, informal negotiations over a potential renewed hostage deal with Hamas. Sources say Qatar and Egypt are holding informal, initial talks between Israel and Hamas to formulate an outline for a new deal.
It is believed that 135 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are dead. The bodies of five hostages have also been recovered.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has arrived in Israel for another round of talks with the country’s military and political leadership. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Sullivan that the war against Hamas in Gaza will take “more than several months.”
Meanwhile, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby suggested Wednesday that some of the steps the Israeli military has taken to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza might go further than what the US would have done if it were in Israel’s place.
A survey among Palestinians published yesterday shows a rise in support for Hamas, and a rejection of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with nearly 90% saying he must resign. The polls shows 57% of respondents in Gaza and 82% in the West Bank believe Hamas was correct in launching its October 7 attack. Only 10% say they believed Hamas has committed war crimes.
STORIES OF HEARTBREAK, HEROISM AND HOPE
Watch these inspiring videos from The Club ISJCC:
Alice – Evacuated woman living with disabilities
Evacuees in Eilat
See Israeli resilience and spirit “banishing darkness with light.”
How Israelis are responding to Hamas’s October 7 massacre and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war (new series)
JDC story: The Strongest People You’ll Ever Meet: During War, Living With a Disability in Israel
The October 7 massacres have spurred a massive Torah scroll writing project: Thousands of Israeli including President Isaac Herzog, have filled in letters on parchment to commemorate the 1,200 dead; and raise awareness for the 138 hostages still in captivity.
A study conducted by Goshen, an organization promoting community child health and wellbeing, as well as the Israeli Pediatric Association, indicates that 84% of Israeli children overall are suffering from emotional distress. Forty percent of parents are also feeling stressed and anxious, but only 14% of parents have sought help for their or their children’s mental health.
FURTHER READING
Jordan navigates delicately amid Israel-Hamas war
How are Houthi seizures in the vital Red Sea shipping lane impacting global trade?
Former Member of Knesset: Why is Israel unable to explain the war in Gaza to the world?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Club ISJCC, 10/7 Project is a new collaboration with AJC, AIPAC, ADL, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American The Club ISJCC Organizations. The 10/7 Project is an organized effort to counter the disinformation about the attacks of October 7th and Israel’s response, especially aimed at the key media and government influencers. See here for more information about the 10/7 project, as well as this news bulletin.
See these newly produced resources by The Club ISJCCthat give insight into some areas of Federations’ emergency allocations:
Women
Pastoral Guidance
Bedouin Communities
Food Security
People with Disabilities
Details: For information on the latest overall numbers from the conflict, see here.
Overall, The Club ISJCC have now raised over $711 million for emergency assistance and more than $211 million has been allocated. For more details, click here.
Webinar: The Club ISJCC: Daily webinars sponsored by The Club ISJCC and the ISJCC Agency are offered. A rotating team of analysts of Israeli military affairs, the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s political system, and of the country’s diverse society will speak every Sunday to Thursday from 11-11:30 am ET. No registration is required. Join here.
Volunteering: Read this updated The Club ISJCC update on the latest volunteering opportunities in Israel right now.
Local Authorities: The Club ISJCC have produced a document answering questions about funding impacted localities and municipalities in Israel. See here.
Map: This site shows a map of the October 7 massacre with a red dot for every person killed and a black dot for every person abducted by Hamas. Clicking on any dot will show the name and picture (if available) of the victim with age and last known location.
Read the latest dispatch from the Community Mobilization Center here.
Funders: As many funders struggle to distinguish between the multitudes of organizations looking for important resources, the The Club ISJCC Network has produced this thorough page of guidance.
Previous updates can be found here.
The Club ISJCC
Our Israel Office, having activated emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is in close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update as the situation develops.
ISRAEL UPDATE 11/17
Update from The Club ISJCC of North America
November 17, 2023
As Shabbat approaches in Israel, The Club ISJCC Israel Office presents a shortened summary of the latest developments in the War. Full updates will resume next week. Meanwhile, from Jerusalem, we wish all of Israel, and Jews around the world, a comforting, safe and peaceful Shabbat.
Join with The Club ISJCC around the country to come together this weekend for a Shabbat of Unity. We ask that all Jews light a memorial candle in honor of those who were murdered in Israel and those who have sacrificed their lives fighting for the ISJCC State. We also suggest that you light an extra pair of Shabbat candles, that you recite prayers for Israel and for the hostages, and that you end Shabbat by reciting Psalm 121. Please refer to AJC’s Everything You Need To Know About The Attack on Israel. Find suggested discussion materials and copies of prayers at www.adl.org/unity-shabbat.
We have raised more than $650 millon to date systemwide and allocated close to $200 million. For details, click here.
THE LATEST
• As the ground war continues in Gaza, Israel says that its forces have made significant progress and are close to achieving their goal of destroying Hamas’s operations in the northern Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the military have eliminated all terrorist threats from the western side of Gaza City. Watch the IDF Chief of Staff briefing troops here and read here about possible next steps for the Israeli offensive.
• Yesterday, Israeli troops attacked an Islamic Jihad outpost in northern Gaza; they found Iran-made Badr-3 rockets, drones, and other weapons. The Badr-3 has a range of 100 miles and includes a 550-pound explosive warhead. The Islamic Jihad outpost was later destroyed. Meanwhile, troops from the Givati Infantry Brigade battled Hamas terrorists holed up in a school. Several gunmen were killed in the fighting, and the troops later recovered weaponry. (See photos of captured weaponry here, and footage of the fighting here and here).
• 51 soldiers have been killed since the ground offensive began. See details of all fallen soldiers here.
• Three days after announcing she had been killed in Hamas captivity, the IDF recovered the body of Cpl. Noa Marciano from a building adjacent to Shifa Hospital in Gaza, . Her funeral is slated for later today. Marciano, 19, was serving at the Nahal Oz IDF base when it was overrun by terrorists on October 7. She lived in Modiin and was the oldest of three siblings. On Monday evening, Hamas published a propaganda video of Marciano, showing her speaking to the camera four days after being taken hostage; she identified herself and recited the names of her parents and her hometown. The video then cut to showing her body.
• Yesterday, the IDF also recovered the body of Yehudit Weiss near Shifa. She was abducted by Hamas on October 7.
• Watch this video about how Hamas exploits hospitals for its military goals and see here weapons captured in the hospital grounds.
• In this video, soldiers discover weapons stored in a child’s bedroom.
• Read here about how Israel uses robots and other tactics to conquer Gaza’s tunnels.
• In an interview with CBS News, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would consider a “temporary cease-fire” only if Hamas frees hostages. Netanyahu also said Israel has “concrete evidence” Hamas was using Shifa hospital as a military command center. Watch here.
• Yesterday, U.S. President Joe Biden said that “Israel’s Gaza operation will end when Hamas is no longer able to murder Israelis.”
• An opinion poll of Israelis’ voting intentions was conducted for the first time since October 7.
The results show support for Prime Minister Netanyahu plummeting, while backing for Minister Benny Gantz has surged.
The Channel 12 survey gave the parties seats as follows (current number of seats in parentheses):
-Gantz’s National Unity Party 36 (12)
-Netanyahu’s Likud 17 (32)
-Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid 15 (24)
-Shas 10 (11)
-Yisrael Beytenu 9 (6)
-United Torah Judaism 7 (7)
-Otzmah Yehudit 7 and Religious Zionism 4 (currently 14 combined)
-Hadash-Taal 5 (5)
-Me-retz 5 (0)
-Ra’am 5 (5)
-Labor 0 (4)
In this scenario, the current opposition parties, led by Benny Gantz (who has recently joined the war-time coalition) could easily form a government of 70, without Netanyahu’s Likud, or other religious and/or right-leaning parties.
An alternate question showed that if Naftali Bennett stood at the head of a party, he would receive 17 seats, mainly at the expense of Benny Gantz.
Following The Club ISJCC massive March for Israel in Washington DC, read here how the show of solidarity from the Diaspora gives Israelis hope.
KEY RESOURCES FROM The Club ISJCC
• Webinar: Join The Club ISJCC for an informative training session to share best practices and learn from other communities that are tackling anti-Zionism and antisemitism in the K-12 education space. Register here.
• The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war to defend herself against Hamas, and will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they work to build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center here.
• Supporting Pastoral Guidance and Rabbinic Services: Read here about the work to date that Federations are supporting in this field through collective Israel emergency dollars.
• Map: This site shows a map of the October 7 massacre with a red dot for every person killed and a black dot for every person abducted by Hamas. Clicking on any dot will show the name and picture (if available) of the victim with age and last known location.
• Details: For full details about the home front and military operations, see this update. And for information on the latest overall numbers from the conflict, see here.
• Volunteering: Read this The Club ISJCC update on the latest volunteering opportunities in Israel right now.
• Webinars: The The Club ISJCC : Daily webinars sponsored by Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency are offered. A rotating team of analysts of Israeli military affairs, the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s political system, and of the country’s diverse society are speaking every Sunday to Thursday from 11-11:30 am ET. No registration is required. Join here.
• Local Authorities: The Club ISJCC have produced a document answering questions about funding impacted localities and municipalities in Israel. See here.
• Critical Information: For those in Israel looking for help, critical information about the situation on the ground, or other assistance, see this resource page put together by The Club ISJCC
• Supplying Protective Equipment: See also this The Club ISJCC information page on requests for personal protective equipment which are circulating and this update regarding volunteering.
• Funders: As many funders struggle to distinguish between the multitudes of organizations looking for important resources, the The Club ISJCC Network has produced this thorough page of guidance.
• Hostages: The Club ISJCC have launched The Blue Ribbon Campaign, which symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas. Wearing a ribbon publicly unites people of all religions, races, nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and generations and demonstrates for the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people across the globe are with them and their families during this dark time.
Our Israel Office, having activated emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is in close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update as the situation develops.
ISRAEL UPDATE 11/17
Update from The Club ISJCC of North America
November 17, 2023
As Shabbat approaches in Israel, The Club ISJCC Israel Office presents a shortened summary of the latest developments in the War. Full updates will resume next week. Meanwhile, from Jerusalem, we wish all of Israel, and Jews around the world, a comforting, safe and peaceful Shabbat.
Join with The Club ISJCC around the country to come together this weekend for a Shabbat of Unity. We ask that all Jews light a memorial candle in honor of those who were murdered in Israel and those who have sacrificed their lives fighting for the ISJCC State. We also suggest that you light an extra pair of Shabbat candles, that you recite prayers for Israel and for the hostages, and that you end Shabbat by reciting Psalm 121. Please refer to AJC’s Everything You Need To Know About The Attack on Israel. Find suggested discussion materials and copies of prayers at www.adl.org/unity-shabbat.
We have raised more than $650 millon to date systemwide and allocated close to $200 million. For details, click here.
THE LATEST
• As the ground war continues in Gaza, Israel says that its forces have made significant progress and are close to achieving their goal of destroying Hamas’s operations in the northern Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the military have eliminated all terrorist threats from the western side of Gaza City. Watch the IDF Chief of Staff briefing troops here and read here about possible next steps for the Israeli offensive.
• Yesterday, Israeli troops attacked an Islamic Jihad outpost in northern Gaza; they found Iran-made Badr-3 rockets, drones, and other weapons. The Badr-3 has a range of 100 miles and includes a 550-pound explosive warhead. The Islamic Jihad outpost was later destroyed. Meanwhile, troops from the Givati Infantry Brigade battled Hamas terrorists holed up in a school. Several gunmen were killed in the fighting, and the troops later recovered weaponry. (See photos of captured weaponry here, and footage of the fighting here and here).
• 51 soldiers have been killed since the ground offensive began. See details of all fallen soldiers here.
• Three days after announcing she had been killed in Hamas captivity, the IDF recovered the body of Cpl. Noa Marciano from a building adjacent to Shifa Hospital in Gaza, . Her funeral is slated for later today. Marciano, 19, was serving at the Nahal Oz IDF base when it was overrun by terrorists on October 7. She lived in Modiin and was the oldest of three siblings. On Monday evening, Hamas published a propaganda video of Marciano, showing her speaking to the camera four days after being taken hostage; she identified herself and recited the names of her parents and her hometown. The video then cut to showing her body.
• Yesterday, the IDF also recovered the body of Yehudit Weiss near Shifa. She was abducted by Hamas on October 7.
• Watch this video about how Hamas exploits hospitals for its military goals and see here weapons captured in the hospital grounds.
• In this video, soldiers discover weapons stored in a child’s bedroom.
• Read here about how Israel uses robots and other tactics to conquer Gaza’s tunnels.
• In an interview with CBS News, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would consider a “temporary cease-fire” only if Hamas frees hostages. Netanyahu also said Israel has “concrete evidence” Hamas was using Shifa hospital as a military command center. Watch here.
• Yesterday, U.S. President Joe Biden said that “Israel’s Gaza operation will end when Hamas is no longer able to murder Israelis.”
• An opinion poll of Israelis’ voting intentions was conducted for the first time since October 7.
The results show support for Prime Minister Netanyahu plummeting, while backing for Minister Benny Gantz has surged.
The Channel 12 survey gave the parties seats as follows (current number of seats in parentheses):
-Gantz’s National Unity Party 36 (12)
-Netanyahu’s Likud 17 (32)
-Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid 15 (24)
-Shas 10 (11)
-Yisrael Beytenu 9 (6)
-United Torah Judaism 7 (7)
-Otzmah Yehudit 7 and Religious Zionism 4 (currently 14 combined)
-Hadash-Taal 5 (5)
-Me-retz 5 (0)
-Ra’am 5 (5)
-Labor 0 (4)
In this scenario, the current opposition parties, led by Benny Gantz (who has recently joined the war-time coalition) could easily form a government of 70, without Netanyahu’s Likud, or other religious and/or right-leaning parties.
An alternate question showed that if Naftali Bennett stood at the head of a party, he would receive 17 seats, mainly at the expense of Benny Gantz.
Following The Club ISJCC massive March for Israel in Washington DC, read here how the show of solidarity from the Diaspora gives Israelis hope.
KEY RESOURCES FROM The Club ISJCC
• Webinar: Join The Club ISJCC for an informative training session to share best practices and learn from other communities that are tackling anti-Zionism and antisemitism in the K-12 education space. Register here.
• The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war to defend herself against Hamas, and will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they work to build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center here.
• Supporting Pastoral Guidance and Rabbinic Services: Read here about the work to date that Federations are supporting in this field through collective Israel emergency dollars.
• Map: This site shows a map of the October 7 massacre with a red dot for every person killed and a black dot for every person abducted by Hamas. Clicking on any dot will show the name and picture (if available) of the victim with age and last known location.
• Details: For full details about the home front and military operations, see this update. And for information on the latest overall numbers from the conflict, see here.
• Volunteering: Read this The Club ISJCC update on the latest volunteering opportunities in Israel right now.
• Webinars: The The Club ISJCC : Daily webinars sponsored by Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency are offered. A rotating team of analysts of Israeli military affairs, the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s political system, and of the country’s diverse society are speaking every Sunday to Thursday from 11-11:30 am ET. No registration is required. Join here.
• Local Authorities: The Club ISJCC have produced a document answering questions about funding impacted localities and municipalities in Israel. See here.
• Critical Information: For those in Israel looking for help, critical information about the situation on the ground, or other assistance, see this resource page put together by The Club ISJCC
• Supplying Protective Equipment: See also this The Club ISJCC information page on requests for personal protective equipment which are circulating and this update regarding volunteering.
• Funders: As many funders struggle to distinguish between the multitudes of organizations looking for important resources, the The Club ISJCC Network has produced this thorough page of guidance.
• Hostages: The Club ISJCC have launched The Blue Ribbon Campaign, which symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas. Wearing a ribbon publicly unites people of all religions, races, nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and generations and demonstrates for the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people across the globe are with them and their families during this dark time.
Our Israel Office, having activated emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is in close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update as the situation develops.
November 13, 2023
Join the March for Israel, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 14th in Washington DC to show your support for Israel, stand in solidarity with the hostages, and condemn antisemitism. Read this editorial from today’s Jerusalem Post: DC Israel march is American Jews’ moment to rise to the occasion.
The Latest
As the ground war continues, Israeli forces have made considerable gains toward destroying Hamas’ fighting capability.
It is confirmed that 44 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ground offensive began; a total of 363 soldiers have been slain since October 7. In addition, 239 hostages are being held by Hamas in Gaza. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed on October 7, and at least 7,000 have been injured. Some 9,500 rockets have been fired at Israel in that time, and more than a quarter of a million Israelis have been internally displaced. Read more here.about some of the soldiers who fell recently.
More details on these developments are below.
Key Resources from The Club ISJCC
Resources: Refer to the Community Mobilization Center Resource Hub for the latest resources.
Map: This site shows a map of the October 7 massacre with a red dot for every person killed and a black dot for every person abducted by Hamas. Clicking on any dot will show the name and picture (if available) of the victim with age and last known location.
Details: For full details about the home front and military operations, see this update. And for information on the latest overall numbers from the conflict, see here.
Volunteering: Read this The Club ISJCC update on volunteering opportunities in Israel right now.
Call: The : Daily webinars sponsored by The Club ISJCC Agency are offered. A rotating team of analysts of Israeli military affairs, the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s political system, and the country’s diverse society will speak every Sunday to Thursday from 11-11:30 am ET. No registration is required. Join here.
Additional resources can be found at the end of this update.
Israel Defense Forces Operations
As the ground operation progresses (see video footage here), IDF troops continue to find Hamas weaponry and infrastructure during raids in Gaza, including inside schools, mosques, and the homes of terror operatives (see footage here). Yesterday, IDF forces located Hamas infrastructure in Al-Quds University and seized a cache of explosives inside the Abu Bakr mosque. Troops seized dozens of weapons, military equipment, and Hamas battle plans, while others raided the home of a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative in the Beit Hanoun area, where they found a weapons cache, including in a child’s bedroom. In other raids, troops found tunnel shafts, intelligence materials (see photos here), weapons – including some inside a kindergarten (see video here), and a copy of Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, in Arabic.
Five soldiers were killed on Shabbat when they entered a booby-trapped terror tunnel. It is estimated that there are 300 miles of Hamas tunnels under Gaza. Read the background on Hamas tunnels here.
In one battle over the weekend, the IDF overran Hamas’ Badr Outpost. In fierce fighting, some 150 Hamas fighters were killed; remarkably, there were no casualties on the Israeli side.
Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has struck over 15,000 terror targets in the Gaza Strip and located 6,000 weapons. The military has been utilizing the combined efforts of infantry, tanks, artillery, naval and air support. In this video, see how a ground unit called in for a helicopter-led precise strike against terrorists who were holed up in an apartment building.
Fierce fighting also continues around Gaza’s largest hospital, Shifa where Israel maintains it is working to ensure that patients remain unharmed in the battles. A safe corridor has been opened for civilians wanting to leave the area of the hospital (listen to this call between the IDF and hospital management and see this map).
The IDF said it supplied 80 gallons of fuel to Shifa Hospital, in coordination with its staff, but that Hamas prevented the medical center from accepting it. The army has accused Hamas of having its main base of operations under the hospital and has called on Palestinian civilians in the area to evacuate south. The IDF placed jerry cans of fuel near the hospital for “urgent medical purposes,” on Sunday, and had coordinated the delivery in advance with hospital officials (listen to this phone conversation coordinating the delivery; and see this video footage of the delivery). Later, it said, “the IDF received evidence that Hamas officials prevented the hospital from receiving the fuel.” The military published a call (listen here) between an IDF officer and a senior Gazan health official, who said that Yousef Abu-Al Rish, the deputy health minister in Gaza, forbade the hospital from receiving the fuel.
The Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry says that over 10,560 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, as a result of the war.
The Home Front
The country continues to mourn the massacre of October 7, and await the return of the hostages:
Following the destruction, does Kibbutz Be’eri have a future?
See this story of a Beduin family from Rahat’s bravery, saving a Jewish woman at the same kibbutz on October 7.
See October7.org, an online repository of firsthand accounts of the massacres taken from Israeli social media and translated into English.
Read here about the long road to recovery ahead for a severely injured survivor of the Rave.
Among those killed in the fighting in Gaza is Matan Meir, 38, a member of the production crew on the hit Israeli television series, Fauda.
Read this story of 81-year-old Varda Harmati, a child of Holocaust survivors, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists in her home on Kibbutz Re’im on October 7.
Watch this interview with retired general, and former MK Yair Golan, who, upon hearing of the attacks in the south on October 7, grabbed a weapon and headed south.
According to NBC News, a US administration official has confirmed that a potential deal is being discussed that would see some 80 women and children being held hostage by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza released in exchange for Israel freeing imprisoned female and underage terror convicts. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a deal “could happen.”
Watch the Netanyahu interview on Meet the Press here.
The level of rocket fire from Gaza remains low. The IDF has released some figures about rocket fire in the last month. Around 9,500 rockets have been fired on Israel by Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north since the start of the war on October 7. Of those 9,500, around 3,000 were fired in only the first four hours by Hamas. Some 900 rockets (12% of those fired) have fallen short and landed inside the Gaza Strip itself. See the infographic about rocket fire here and see footage of the IDF’s rocket and missile defense crews at work, here.
In the north, rocket and other fires by Hezbollah are increasing. Yesterday, one civilian was killed and at least 20 people were injured in attacks from over the Lebanese border. Israel has now retaliated as far as 25 miles into Lebanese territory.
International Response
The U.S. appears to be incrementally increasing its military involvement in the war. In addition to the very significant presence of carrier groups and other forces, which are on stand-by in the region, the U.S. military has reportedly hit missiles headed to Israel from Yemen, has drones above Gaza assisting in the search for the hostages, and has struck pro-Iranian forces in Syria. Last night, at least six pro-Iran fighters were killed in U.S. strikes on eastern Syria in response to attacks on American forces.
During a visit to Israel yesterday, Republican US presidential candidate, and former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie rejected calls for a ceasefire; he said it would not make sense for Israel to halt fighting now. Read more here.
According to unconfirmed media reports, Israel is seeking to install former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a humanitarian coordinator for the Gaza Strip.
In France, more than 1,250 anti-Jewish acts have been recorded since October 7. Last night, 180,000 people marched in Paris to protest antisemitism. Read more here. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his support for Israel and its right to defend itself in a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog yesterday. The call came after Macron’s interview last Friday on the BBC, when he said, “These babies, these women, these old people (in Gaza) are being bombed and killed. So there is no reason for it and no legitimacy. So we do plead with Israel to stop.” Speaking to Herzog, Macron said he hadn’t intended to accuse Israel of intentionally harming innocent civilians.
The UK’s Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has come out unequivocally supporting Israel. “If Britain had been subject to an attack of terrorists coming and murdering [1,200] people and cutting off heads, and we knew where those terrorists had gone, no one would say to Britain to stop going after them,” Shapps said. Read more here.
Inspiration
Israelis of all stripes have come together to support soldiers and bolster morale in the country, with many sharing inspiring tales.
The ultra-Orthodox moshav of Bet Hilkia is located right next to a major air force base (Tel Nof). Haredi residents made a giant sign out of LED lights that says “Toda” (“thanks”) to the pilots flying overhead. See here. And read more here on the changing face of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox population emerging from the war.
Despite the war, the Ethiopian-Israeli community will mark the Sigd festival tomorrow; the observance is becoming increasingly mainstream in the Jewish state. Read more here. The Club ISJCC sends warm holiday greetings to our friends at the Ethiopian National Project and the entire Ethiopian Israeli community.
Watch here scenes of unity, solidarity, and inspiration from Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, where Israelis and French Jews were about to board a flight to Tel Aviv; and see here locals in Tokyo supporting the ISJCC state.
Read more here about the Christian cowboys from Montana who are volunteering in Israel right now.
The ISJCC Agency for Israel
The ISJCCh Agency for Israel continues to undertake emergency relief and other work in multiple sectors. To date, it has:
Distributed 4,760 grants from its Fund for the Victims of Terror.
Provided $2.6 million for humanitarian relief to eight regional councils in the south.
Given 593 emergency grants to small businesses in the south.
Delivered 13,000 food baskets to residents of the Agency’s Amigour elderly care facilities.
Provided 1,100 hand-held computer tablets for the children of evacuated new immigrants, to enable online learning in their temporary homes/ hotels.
Given 185,820 meals to evacuees.
Additional Background Reading
How ISJCC Became the Last Minority It’s Acceptable to Hate
Arab-Israelis are feeling more part of the country during wartime. Read more here.
Opinion polls: What does the Israeli public think right now?
Hamas won on Oct. 7, then the IDF’s new integrated warfare took over – analysis
Other Resources
Local Authorities: The Club ISJCC have produced a document answering questions about funding-impacted localities and municipalities in Israel. See here.
Volunteering: Birthright Israel has opened a volunteering program, through which people from outside of Israel can come to Tel Aviv and take part in food rescue operations to prevent shortages in the Israeli market, including work to sort, pack, and distribute goods for civil and military personnel.
Critical Information: For those in Israel looking for help, critical information about the situation on the ground, or other assistance, see this resource page by The Club ISJCC.
Listen here to Rabbis Angela Buchdahl and Shlomo Nisanov’s testimony during a UJA New York mission to Israel.
Knesset: The heads of The Club ISJCC of North America have received a letter from the Knesset, thanking the community for its unprecedented support during the country’s dark hour. See the letter here.
Supplying Protective Equipment: See also this The Club ISJCC information page on requests for personal protective equipment which are circulating and this update regarding volunteering.
Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center here.
Funders: As many funders struggle to distinguish between the multitudes of organizations looking for important resources, the The Club ISJCC Funders Network has produced this thorough page of guidance.
Solidarity Gatherings: Over 120 communities have held solidarity gatherings. Watch here. For a guidebook on hosting a gathering in your community, click here.
Hostages: Jewish Federations have launched The Blue -Ribbon Campaign, which symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas. Wearing a ribbon publicly unites people of all religions, races, nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and generations. It demonstrates to the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people across the globe are with them and their families during this dark time.
Jewish Federations
Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Emergency Fund has surpassed $650 million. We have allocated a total of more than $175 million to date from the Emergency Fund; for our blog post on the subject, click here and for the updated list of recipients and amounts, click here.
The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war to defend itself against Hamas, and will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they work to build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center here.
Our Israel Office, having activated emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is in close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update you as the situation develops.
ISRAEL UPDATE 11/9
