We are nearing two months since the war between Israel and Hamas began. And as the weeks go by, Hamas’ terror continues, breaking the agreed-upon temporary truceby firing rockets into Southern Israel, killing three Israelis — including a pregnant woman — at a Jerusalem bus stop yesterday, failing to hand over a list of hostages — the blatant disregard by Hamas for civilian life and to international law goes on and on.
But even in the continued bloodshed, we have found a glimmer of hope over the past week as 112 innocent hostages – including children, women and elderly – have been freed from captivity. And yet, we know that those 112 lives have been irrevocably changed with children coming home as orphans and families returning with loved ones still held captive as emotional warfare.
And while it may feel as though the world has been fooled by or complicit in the manipulations of a terrorist organization, we must bear witness and we must remember.
When terrorists forced hostages to wave and smile to cameras – we saw the truth.
When released children spoke in whispers – we heard the truth.
When institutions founded in believing women denied or were silent to the mass rape of Israeli women – we knew the truth.
And when children reported being forced to watch videos of their Kibbutzim massacred, threatened with violence if they were to cry – we felt the truth.
And as these freed innocent civilians return to a broken world – we must speak the truth to advocate for all of the remaining hostages to be released. And while you may ask what part you have to play, half a world away from our Jewish homeland, it is exactly that – your voice.
From December 4-8, I am asking you to join me and the American Jewish community for a National Mobilization Week to use your voice to call Congress and urge our elected officials to stand with Israel. With your help, our call will not be ignored. You can take action at callforisrael.org/phillymobilizes.
Key Points:
The week-long ceasefire in Gaza ended this morning after Israel and Hamas failed to agree on a list of hostages to be released today. Also, the Prime Minister's office accused Hamas of not fulfilling its promise to release all the female hostages.
In a terror attack in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, three people were killed when two brothers, Hamas-affiliated terrorists, opened fire at a bus stop. At least six other people were injured. Among those killed were a 24-year-old woman, and a Rabbinical Court Judge, Dayan Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman.
Israeli security forces arrested 15 people last night in the West Bank on suspicion of terrorism.
A rocket landed this morning in a kibbutz in the south of the country; no casualties, however, were reported.
Below you will find information on:
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's emergency work to date
Updates from the home front in Israel
Current national and international responses
If you would like to continue receiving these emergency communications, please click here.
Am Yisrael Chai,
Michael Balaban President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
OUR WORK TO DATE Philly Stands With Israel
As of Dec. 1, 2023, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has received pledges of over $13.7 million. We have already distributed over $6 million to help our partnership region of Netivot and Sdot Negev – which border Gaza and are at the epicenter of the conflict – and other communities in need. You can see our emergency allocations here.
Learn how the Jewish Federation is supporting the people of Israel and how you can help by clicking here.
From December 4-8, the American Jewish community will join together to advocate for Israel. In partnership with AIPAC, the Jewish Federation aims to generate thousands of calls into congressional offices, urging our elected officials to stand with Israel as it fights to protect its people and destroy Hamas. Make the call for Israel here.
The Jewish Federation is proud to sponsor the Israeli American Council’s Solidarity Rally Against Antisemitism at Liberty Bell Court (5th & Market) on December 10 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Coinciding with the fourth night of Chanukah, all faith groups are invited to join together to light up the darkness by standing against hate and standing with Israel and for humanity. More information will be coming soon.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia decries the rape of Israeli women on October 7 as a human rights abuse and a war crime. As a proud member of the Jewish Women's Funding Network (JWFN), the Jewish Federation’s Women of Vision group signed onto a statement calling upon UN Women to stand up for Resolution 1820 adopted in 2008, stating unequivocally that “rape as a tactic of war is a crime against humanity.” As part of JWFN, we will be represented at the United Nations on December 4 with our global partners to share testimony on sexually-based violent war crimes that occurred on October 7 by Hamas in Israel, and to insist that UN Women revise its statements of October 25 and November 25 to reflect reality. Click here to see the full statement.
Read this piece in Broad + Liberty about the School District of Philadelphia’s now removed course for educators, titled “Decolonizing the Curriculum: Brief History of Palestine and the Creation of Israel: Contextualizing the Current Conflict and Genocide.” In the article, the Jewish Federation’s JCRC Director Jason Holtzman, in part, said “While we recognize the district’s efforts to remove this course from its portal, misinformation posted on the web has a permanent footprint that emboldens antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric. We urge the district to firmly denounce the problematic nature of the language used in this course to make it clear that they are committed to building a safe schooling environment for Jewish students and teachers.”
FROM THE HOME FRONT IN ISRAEL
News from Jewish Federation Partners on the Ground
Hostages
As part of the hostage-release deal, a total of 112 Israeli hostages have now been released from Hamas captivity and have been reunited with their families, in six separate groups, over the last six days.
On Wednesday night, 12 Israeli hostages and four foreign laborers from Thailandwere released. Two of the Israelis also held Russian citizenship. Initially, Hamas said that the two hostages with Russian citizenship were not part of the deal, but were, instead, a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, since it has become clear that the two were also Israeli citizens, Hamas has announced that the two will count towards the 10 hostages slated to be released this evening. As a result, only 8 hostages were released Thursday. Some reports have suggested that Hamas will also return the bodies of three Israelis it is holding.
In what is likely a form of psychological warfare, last night’s releases were repeatedly delayed, with questions arising as to whether the exchange would indeed take place.
The hostages set free so far have been young children, their mothers, elderly women, and foreign workers (mainly from Thailand).
In exchange for those let out, Israel has released some 240 terrorists from prison and granted a six-day ceasefire. Terrorists released as part of the deal were all women, and under-18 minors, most serving sentences for attempted murder, stabbings, stone-throwing, and other terror attacks. Prominent Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was among the 30 prisoners freed by Israel yesterday.
There are still around 139 hostages in Gaza, (including 14 women and 4 children) although not all may be alive.
Hamas has suggested that some members of the Bibas family are no longer alive, although this has not been confirmed. Kfir Bibas, now nine months old was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his 4-year-old brother Ariel and parents Yarden, 34, and Shiri, 32.
Additional details continue to emerge about the harsh conditions under which hostages were, and are, being kept. Food was severely limited (often to less than one pita per day per hostage), and many were beaten by their captors.
See these stories of some of the hostages who have been released:
Released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, revealed in an interview that she met Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in a tunnel during her time in Gaza — and was not afraid to tell him what she thought. “Sinwar was with us three days after we got there. I asked him how he wasn’t ashamed of himself, for doing such a thing to people who for years supported peace. He didn’t answer. He was quiet.”
After hours of anxious waiting, dozens of members of Kibbutz Be’eri shouted for joy Wednesday night as they watched footage of six hostages from their kibbutz among 10 coming home to Israel after being held captive in Gaza by Hamas for the last 54 days.
One of the hostages, recently released from Gaza, revealed on Wednesday that he was held for nearly 50 days in an attic by a teacher from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Still-captive hostage Shani Goren took care of Eitan Yahami while in captivity.
Gali Tarshansky, 13, who was returned last night, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists from her home on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. Gali was in the family’s safe room with her brother, Lior, 15, and their father, Ilya, when Hamas terrorists entered and killed Lior, as Gali and Ilya jumped out of the window. Ilya survived and was not taken captive.
See these storiesof hostages still being held in captivity.
Israel Defense Forces Operation
Israel is now continuing its war on Hamas. Watch this video of the IDF Chief of Staff planning the next stages of fighting.
While not officially a party to the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah, as an ally of Hamas has also held fire from the north. An exception to this came yesterday as a drone crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon, sounding sirens in towns along the border. The IDF shot down the drone.
Stories of Heartbreak, Heroism And Hope
Watch this JDC videoabout the multitudes of volunteers working in agriculture to save crops during the current war.
Tamar Kam was shot in the stomach by Hamas and her boyfriend was killed as they took shelter in a kibbutz apartment after escaping the Nova Music Festival massacre. Now, she is receiving support from The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror as she recovers.
Caregivers like Edita Umila from the Philippines often faced dilemmas about whether to save themselves or save their employers. Watch the moving video.
Magen David Adom, a recipient of Jewish Federations allocations, has been at the forefront of saving lives during the current war. Watch more.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
International Response
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told members of Congress that the White House isn’t seeking conditions on aid to Israel. Several progressive Democrats have called for conditioning aid to Israel, as the civilian casualty figures in Gaza increase.
Meanwhile, an American destroyer shot down a drone headed for Israel on Thursday that was launched from a part of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The US military’s Central Command stated, “At approximately 1100 (Sanaa time), while in the South Red Sea, the Arleigh-Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) shot down an Iranian-produced KAS04 unmanned aerial vehicle launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”
U.S. Senators have been left silent, after viewing shocking footage of the October 7 massacres.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the first time called for an investigation into allegations of sexual violence committed during the October 7 Hamas massacres. He said that “There are numerous accounts of sexual violence during the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas on 7 October that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan addressed the UN Security Council on Wednesday and said, “This war can end tomorrow, even today. If Hamas returns all of the hostages and turns in all the terrorists who took part in the massacre, a real ceasefire can be achieved that will last decades. Demand this of Hamas. This is the solution.” Read his fullremarks.
Resources: Readers can access a Jewish Federations toolkit of resources here, and can refer to the Community Mobilization Center Resource Hub for the latest talking points, tools, and other resources.
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.
Jewish Federations have now raised a total of more than $659 million system-wide and allocated close to $200 million to a wide range of humanitarian organizations in Israel. See our impact stats here.
Volunteering: Read this updated Jewish Federation update on the latest volunteering opportunities in Israel right now.
SupportingPastoral Guidance and Rabbinic Services. Read here about the work to date that Federations are supporting in this field through collective Israel emergency dollars.
Local Authorities: Jewish Federations have produced a document answering questions about funding-impacted localities and municipalities in Israel. See here.
Map: Thissite 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 communication from the Community Mobilization Centerhere.
Funders: As many funders struggle to distinguish between the multitudes of organizations looking for important resources, the Jewish Funders Network has produced this thorough page of guidance.
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.
