End the War, Free the Hostages, Surge Aid, Substack
On Sunday J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami wrote, “I stand with my friends, colleagues, and family who are part of a mass mobilization in Israel today in support of ending the war.”
U.S. Jewish and Israeli Groups Rally at White House Calling to Release Hostages and End Gaza War, Starvation, Haaretz
“The rally, organized by J Street, New Jewish Narrative, Union for Reform Judaism, and UnXeptable DC, was planned in accordance with the nationwide strike now taking place all across Israel.”
Hundreds of Thousands Demonstrate in Tel Aviv at End of Nationwide Day of Hostage Protests, Times of Israel
“The rally in Tel Aviv appeared to be one of the biggest since the war began nearly two years ago, and according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum was attended by over half a million people, though there were no official police estimates for the crowd’s size.”
Democrats Edge Away From Unwavering Support for Israel, New York Magazine
Ed Kilgore writes, “President Donald Trump has replaced Biden as Israel’s enabler-in-chief, and conditions in Gaza keep deteriorating – to the point where using the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s conduct and intentions no longer raises many eyebrows. Support for Israel’s war among rank-and-file Democrats is quickly evaporating, and Democratic politicians are slowly but surely following.”
US Halts Visitor Visas for Gazans, Including Humanitarian Medical Visas, Washington Post
“The move comes after far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized the visa program in recent days, describing it as a ‘national security threat’ in a social media post.”
Pete Buttigieg Shifts Tone on Israel Following Backlash Over Supportive Comments, JTA
“Pete Buttigieg said he would support halting U.S. arms sales to Israel and U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state, in a dramatic about-face following backlash over a podcast interview where he expressed cautious support for Israel.”
BBC Witnesses Israeli Settlers’ Attack on Palestinian Farm in West Bank, BBC
“This is now a familiar routine. Palestinians living in these villages south of Nablus say there are attacks and confrontations on their lands every week, and that settlers are using these kinds of tactics to take over the land, field by field. But the speed and spread of this attack is breathtaking. In little more than an hour, dozens of settlers had fanned out across the hills. We watched as they broke into an isolated building, and methodically set fire to vehicles and homes.”
US Envoy Says Israel Should ‘Comply’ With Lebanon Plan to Disarm Militant Groups, Reuters
“Top US envoy Thomas Barrack said on Monday Israel should comply with a plan under which Lebanese militant group Hezbollah would be disarmed by the end of the year in exchange for a halt to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.”
US Halts Visitor Visas for Gazans, Including Humanitarian Medical Visas, Washington Post
“The move comes after far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized the visa program in recent days, describing it as a ‘national security threat’ in a social media post.”
AG Tells Israel’s Top Court Justice Minister Defied Order to Halt Her Dismissal, Haaretz
“Israel’s attorney general submitted her response to the High Court on Sunday regarding a petition against Justice Minister Yariv Levin filed after he ordered the locks to be changed at the Justice Ministry’s office in Tel Aviv, effectively barring Baharav-Miara and her staff from accessing the premises.”
Israeli Military Preparing to Expel Gaza City Residents As Baby in Tent Among Those Killed in Latest Attacks, The Guardian
“The Israeli military will begin preparing for the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza City, it said on Saturday, as health officials said it had killed at least 40 people including a baby in a tent and people seeking aid in its latest attacks.”
Israel’s Largest Protest in Over a Year Was a Clear Warning to Netanyahu. Will It Matter?, Haaretz
Amir Tibon writes, “On Sunday, as Israelis took to the streets, the painful memory of last summer was on everyone’s mind. The Netanyahu government is planning to expand the war and send the military into areas of Gaza where Hamas is known to be holding some of the living hostages. This decision, if executed despite the military’s initial objections, will lead to a ‘re-run’ of the Rafah incident from last year, and cost the lives of hostages like my neighbor Omri Miran from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, who can still be saved if a deal to end the war is achieved.”
Hearts Filled With Love for Israel, Greenwich Time
Alma Rutgers writes, “Pidyon Shvuyim – the redemption of hostages – is a Torah commandment. It’s a duty in Jewish law to negotiate to free those who have been captured or taken hostage. That should have been the top priority in the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7 but has never been such for the Netanyahu government.”
Enough!, Times of Israel
Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish writes, “Enough, Halas, Maspik!! It is time for this war to end, for the hostages to come home, for the starvation to stop and for diplomacy to replace violence.”