Today’s suggested actions to support Israel in your local community: 

·       Read this analysis by military law expert Professor Geoffrey S. Corn on the legality of the IDF response to Hamas terrorism, which he calls “one of the most effective combined arms maneuver campaigns in an urban area in modern history.”

·       Share these posts on Instagram and Facebook on the horrific sexual violence that was committed against Israeli women on October 7.

·       Combat anti-Israel resolutions proposed by your city council with the help of our updated step-by-step issue brief featuring talking points, best practices from across the system and sample statements.

·       Urge your Members of Congress in the House to support the swift passage of aid to Israel, funding for NSGP, and assistance for Ukraine, by calling their offices and signing our action alert.

·       Read and share the story of 23-year-old Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese farming student who arrived in Israel three weeks before October 7 to care for orange and lemon orchards.  On the morning of October 7, terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Alumim. Bipin hid in a shelter with other farmers and heroically saved his friends when terrorists threw grenades at them and he hurled one back. Bipin was seen last when terrorists ordered him and three other Thai workers to come with them.  He is still believed to be held in Hamas captivity. His father Mahanand organizes marches in Nepal and said, “every moment that passes without us knowing where our son is, if he is even alive, pushes us to the edge.”

Issue:

Yesterday, reports flooded the media that 104 Palestinians were killed in Gaza when IDF troops fired on a stampede of Gazans seeking aid from an Israeli convoy of 30 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance. The media and other international bodies including the EU and UN were quick to adopt Hamas’s account of the incident and to condemn Israel for the tragedy. 

Background:

·       The IDF released aerial footage of a stampede in the early hours of the morning in Gaza City yesterday where the Hamas run Ministry of Health claimed that 100 people were killed by IDF shelling.

·       According to IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari, “Thousands of  Gazans descended upon the trucks. Some began violently pushing and even trampling other Gazans to death, looting the humanitarian supplies. The unfortunate incident resulted in dozens of Gazans killed and injured.”

·       The aid convoy traveled along a humanitarian corridor along with IDF tanks deployed to secure the route from Hamas fire to ensure that the aid would safely reach those in need.  When the situation became uncontrollable after the mob approached the convoy, the tank commander decided to retreat. According to an initial IDF probe, the majority of casualties were tragically caused by trampling and being struck by the trucks that were driven by Gazan civilians.  Hagari emphasized that Israel wants the aid to reach the people of Gaza, which is why the IDF was present to conduct this humanitarian operation. He added, “No IDF strike was conducted towards the aid convoy.”

·       A second incident occurred a short distance away whereby a group of Palestinians approached IDF forces in a war zone. The forces fired warning shots in the air and after the group continued to proceed forward, the IDF identified the threat and fired at the crowd.  Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said, “We are aware in the second incident that there is a handful of people that were injured. This is the reality on the ground. This is a tragic incident.”

·       The White House said that the incident in Gaza City was “tremendously alarming” and asked for a thorough investigation from Israel.

·       The IDF has launched a full investigation to understand what happened and to prevent instances like this from happening again.

·       Since the beginning of the war, Israel has facilitated 267,970 tons of aid on 14,545 trucks.  Aid includes food, water, medical supplies, shelter equipment, fuel, cooking gas and other necessities.

·       All trucks must undergo security screening – due to past instances of weapon smuggling for terror purposes – which inevitably slows down the process of the transfer of aid to the UN.  According to Israel, “The volume of humanitarian aid is determined, among other factors, by the ability of humanitarian organizations within the Gaza Strip to absorb the aid.”

·       For the first time, food and medical equipment were air dropped into Gaza.  This was part of an international cooperation between Israel and the US, UAE, Jordan, Egypt and France.

The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war against Hamas. The Community Mobilization Center will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. The work of the Community Mobilization Center will continue as long as it takes Israel to eradicate the terrorist threat and restore security to the country.