JFNA Updates

Jewish Federations

Jewish Federations have produced a new backgrounder that details our emergency allocations in the area of Young Children.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Activities

With the death of 21 IDF soldiers on Tuesday, Israel suffered its worst loss of life incident since October 7. The troops came under attack in the southern Gaza Strip when an explosion destroyed two buildings with soldiers inside them. The buildings, close to the border with Israel, were being rigged for demolition by IDF troops when Palestinian gunmen fired an RPG at a tank securing the forces. A second blast then occurred in the buildings, possibly as a result of a second RPG, leading to their collapse. The soldiers were destroying structures and Hamas sites as part of the army’s efforts to establish a buffer zone to allow residents of Israeli border communities to return to their homes. See the names of all 21 who fell, as well as the reactions of Israeli leaders here.

Jewish Federations:

Jewish Federations’ Israel Emergency Campaign has now surpassed $775 million system-wide; we have allocated more than $300 million to a wide range of humanitarian organizations in Israel. See a detailed update on allocations here.

Jewish Federations joined other major Jewish organizations in speaking out forcefully against the groundless charges of genocide leveled against Israel by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. See this blog post for details, including the letter that was sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Learn more about the insidious myths around the legality of Israel’s war by watching a Jewish Federations’ webinar on Wednesday, January 24 at 1 pm ET with Major John Spencer and expert in the law of armed conflict Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey S. Corn, who have nearly five decades of combined military experience.

Jewish Federations:

Learn more about the insidious myths around the legality of Israel’s war on a Jewish Federations’ webinar on Wednesday, January 24 at 1 pm ET with Major John Spencer and Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey S. Corn, who have nearly five decades of combined military experience. Register here.

Join the Jewish Agency for Israel’s webinar with David Makovsky, (Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute) and a renowned scholar and author, exploring the future of the Middle East and Israel going forward after the October 7 attacks by Hamas and the ongoing war. Tomorrow, Friday, January 19 at 11 am ET. Register here.

The Latest:

As fighting continues, additional IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total to 190 since the ground invasion began, and 524 since October 7. See details of all the fallen soldiers here.

A terror attack was carried out by two Palestinians in Ra’anana yesterday. A 72-year-old Israeli woman was stabbed to death and 17 others were wounded, several of whom remain in serious condition. The two terrorists, cousins from Hebron, were both apprehended. During the attack, victims were stabbed, their cars stolen, and the vehicles were then used to run down multiple pedestrians.

Israel's Finance Ministry has estimated that the war is costing the Israeli economy around $270 million per week. Between October - December, 46,000 workers were either fired or put on leave in Israel. About 760,000 workers (18% of the workforce) were unable to work due to: military reserve duty, displacement from their homes, or because they are single parents.

The Latest:

As fighting continues, additional IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 173, (and to 505 since October 7). See details of all the fallen soldiers here.

The Latest Numbers:

As we mark three months since the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent war, these are the latest numbers:

1,300 Israelis have been killed. Of these:

At least 35 were children.

509 were IDF soldiers (and of these, 177 were killed in the ground operation). See details of all the fallen soldiers here.

14 were in the country’s north.

11,594 Israelis have been injured.

An estimated 218,000 Israelis are currently internally displaced, including from 67 towns that have been officially evacuated. (Some 40 of the 67 towns have been permitted to return in the coming days).

Around 12,500 rockets (and other projectiles) have been fired at Israel since October 7. Of these:

About 10,500 were fired by Hamas and other terrorist groups from Gaza

14 by the Houthi rebels in Yemen

2,000 by Hezbollah from Lebanon and Syria.

Thousands of rockets were fired by Hamas on October 7, and hundreds of rockets per day in the weeks that followed. By the week of December 1-7, as IDF ground operations restricted Hamas’ capabilities, the terror group still managed to fire 75 rockets per day, but by December 8-14, the number had dropped to 23. From December 15-27, the average number of rockets dropped to 16 and is now below 10.

There are 130 hostages in Gaza, but at least 25 of these are believed to be no longer alive (that number could be much higher). 109 hostages have been released; and the IDF has rescued one hostage, recovered eight bodies, and accidentally killed three hostages.

The Latest:

As fighting continues, more IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 173, (and to 505 since October 7). Yesterday, American-Israeli Sgt. Maj (Res) Amichai Oster was slain in battle. He was the son of Dr. Howard Oster, deputy director of the Internal Medicine Division at Sourasky Medical Center, and Marcy Oster, a well-known journalist. The family had made Aliyah from Cleveland, Ohio. See details of all the fallen soldiers here.

As fighting in Gaza continues, an Israeli delegation is currently in Egypt, discussing a potential new hostage deal.

THE LATEST:

As fighting continues, more IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 164, (and to 496 since October 7). See details of all the fallen soldiers here. One of those killed yesterday was Cpt. (Res.) Shaul Greenglick, 26, of Ra’anana. When Greenglick was home on a break from reserve duty three weeks ago, he appeared in uniform on an episode of the reality TV singing competition “The Next Star.” The judges praised him as having “a natural talent with an amazing voice.”

Reports continue that talks are taking place over a possible deal for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a two to three-week ceasefire. According to some news outlets, Hamas would return 40 hostages it is holding.

Israelis are beginning to discuss the failures that led to October 7. State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced that in the coming months his office will examine the “multi-system failures" that occurred. He promised that “no stone will be left unturned” in examining “personal responsibility” for the “failures on all levels – policy, military and civilian.”

The Latest:

As fighting continues, additional IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 134, (and to 466 since October 7). See details of all the fallen soldiers here.

Multiple, unconfirmed reports have emerged that “intensive” talks are taking place in Egypt over a possible deal for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has arrived in Cairo to take part. According to some news outlets, Hamas would return 40 hostages it is holding, in exchange for hundreds of Hamas prisoners (including some accused of serious offenses) as well as a week-long ceasefire. At the moment, Hamas is demanding a ceasefire while a deal is negotiated, but Israel says that any ceasefire will only begin once a deal is in place.

The Latest:

As fighting continues, additional IDF soldiers have been killed, bringing the total number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive began to 127, (and to 459 since October 7). See details of all the fallen soldiers here. More than 1,800 soldiers have been wounded, and 38 remain hospitalized in serious condition.

Nearly 70% of Iran’s gas stations went out of service following a likely cyberattack. An Israeli hacker group claimed responsibility. It was also announced today that an attempt by Iranian figures to hack into Ziv Hospital in northern Israel was recently thwarted.