The surprise attack by Hamas on Southern Israel resulted in hundreds of residents and soldiers killed, thousands more wounded. While trying to restore the control over the area surrounding Gaza to its hands, the IDF is planning its counter attack on the terror organizations, in an effort to neutralize the threat from Gaza.
The Jerusalem Press Club brings you voices from the field, analysis of experts and more information about the war.
2024 JPC-OurCrowd Israeli Tech Media Tour – June 23-28, 2024
Despite the ongoing war, Israel’s tech sector has shown signature resilience and has recently shown signs of recovery. The tour, a collaborative effort by JPC and OurCrowd, provided access to the cutting-edge technology behind the headlines, focusing on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, as well as to military and government leaders providing insight into the Gaza war, and press passes to the iconic AI Week and Cyber Week events taking place in Tel Aviv.
In addition, we visited the southern Kibbutzim and sites brutally targeted by Hamas on October 7, and gained insight into the profound impact of Hamas terrorism on these communities.
2024 Jerusalem Press Club Media Tour – May 19-23, 2024
The Jerusalem Press Club, was pleased to host journalists from abroad and curate for them an Israel experience that provided an in-depth look at the situation on the ground, in like of the while exploring the impact the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The media tour delved into Israel’s security, homefront, and economy, and provided journalists with a unique opportunity to see and experience wartime Israel first-hand and gain insights on the path forward from both an economic and military perspective.
The program included visits to areas attacked by Hamas on October 7th as well as those currently evacuated in north and south, meetings with families of hostages, and briefings with military and political leaders who shared their insights on the current situation and what lies ahead.
Briefing with Prof Shaul Chorev – June 19, 2024
Briefing with Sharren Haskel – June 10, 2024
Briefing with Political Science Prof. Gayil Talshir, Hebrew University of Jerusalem – June 6, 2024
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata – June 5, 2024
Yair Assaf-Shapira, of the Jerusalem Institute of Policy Research, presents their 2024 Facts & Trends study – June 3, 2024
Briefing with former head of Mossad’s Hostages & MIAs division Rami Igra – May 29, 2024
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata – May 21, 2024
Briefing w/ Debbie Ziering whose son Aryeh fell on Oct. 7 – May 9,2024
Holocaust Remembrance Day Briefing with Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan – May 5 2024
Briefing with ISGAP Director Charles Asher Small on Antisemitism on US Campuses – May 2, 2024
Briefing with Human Rights Expert Anne Hertzberg on Israel’s Legal Status – April 30, 2024
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata – April 24, 2024
Briefing w/ Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh Polin is held hostage in Gaza – April 21, 2024
UN Watch Report: Special briefing with UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer – April 18 2024
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Pinko on Iranian Attack on Israel – April 16, 2024
Briefing with Missile and UAV Expert Tal Inbar on Iranian Attack – April 14, 2024
Briefing with Brig. Gen. (res.) Kuperwasser on Iranian Attack – April 14, 2024
Briefing on Haerdi Draft Bill w/ Dr. Shuki Friedman and Rivka Ravitz – March 27, 2024
Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund & JPC Post-Purim Get-Together – March 25, 2024
Last night, we held a Purim event for friends of the Jerusalem Press Club and the Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund at Touro in Jerusalem. It was great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. The JPC and the Mizrahi Fund want to extend their heartfelt thanks to all who attended. Here’s to better days ahead, full of togetherness and friendship.
Expert: US non-veto in UN Gaza resolution will prolong war
Helit Barel, former senior official at Israel’s National Security Council and a founding member of the Devora Forum for the empowerment of women in foreign and security roles, analyzes the diplomatic tension leading up to the United States withholding its veto power at the UN in a resolution considered unfavorable by Israel.
“It’s no secret that there has been quite a dispute between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government about where are we going with all of this. What’s the day after? What are we looking to have in Gaza? What are we looking to have in the Middle East? And the stagnation on that level, on the political level, has definitely brought a lot of tension into the relations between the two nations.”
“I would say it’s a decision that is working against the negotiations that are currently ongoing with regard to the return of the hostages, potential movement of population up to northern Gaza Strip, and any kind of limited ceasefire, for the simple reason that Hamas is touting this as a victory, and to the extent that [Yahya] Sinwar actually believes that he has some sort of victory in this decision, and that he can somehow obtain a cessation of the fire or an end to this war before these negotiations are complete.”
“Domestic politics, always play a role in every country, in every situation… certainly there have been […] accusations towards the Biden administration that they’re […] mostly catering to their base by making things more difficult for Israel because it is an election year. However, it’s very interesting to note that former President Trump, the Republican nominee, said similar things in the sense that Israel will have to go to a ceasefire as soon as possible, the war must end, and talking about peace. So when we look at it from Israel […] when the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee sound the same, then it begs the question whether this is really something that you can hang your hat on.”
March 26, 2024
Briefing on Israel-US Relations w/ Fmr. Ambassador to the US Danny Ayalon – March 18, 2024
Ramadan Tour of Jerusalem’s Old City – March 13, 2024
Briefing on Lebanon Border w/ Lt. Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi – March 10, 2024
Briefing with Dr. Naama de la Fontaine – March 6, 2024
Briefing with Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, Founder/Chair of Israel Defense and Security Forum
February 28, 2024
Briefing with Yossi Kuperwasser, former Strategic Affairs Ministry Director
February 26, 2024
Gandel Rehabilitation Center, Hadassah Mt. Scopus – February 21, 2024
Briefing with Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror
February 19, 2024
Press Conference with Maayan Segal-Koren, that her relatives were released by the IDF from Hamas’s captivity
February 14, 2024
Briefing with Honorable Jason Greenblatt, former White House special envoy to the Middle East, on US-Israel relations
February 12, 2024
Briefing with Maj. Gen. (res.) David Tsur on Israeli rescue operation in Rafah
February 12, 2024
Briefing with Zvika Mor, Father of Hostage Eitan Mor, and Head of Forum Tikva
February 7, 2024
Briefing for Latin American journalists on ICJ Ruling
February 7, 2024
JPC Kibbutz Agriculture Devastation & Regrowth Press Tour
January 31, 2024
In-Person Briefing w/ Amichai Chikli Min. of Diaspora Affairs – January 30, 2024
January 30, 2024
Briefing with Daniel Taub on ICJ Developments
January 28, 2024
New Report Reveals Parallels between 10/7 & Holocaust Denial: The Jerusalem Press Club and CyberWell briefing discusses online trends of incitement following the war.
January 24, 2024
War briefing with former National Security advisor, Dr. Eyal Hulata
January 23, 2024
Briefing on the Iron Swords war with Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaacov Amidror
January 18, 2024
Briefing: ICJ on Israel-Gaza with adv. Pnina Sharvit Baruch
January 10, 2024
The Jerusalem Press Club hosted an exclusive dinner and briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata, most recent National Security Advisor.
The event took place at the historic Jerusalem House of Quality (“Beit Ot HaMotzar”), and was attended by journalists from a number of leading publications worldwide. Dr. Hulata provided an extensive overview of the conflict’s status from domestic and geopolitical standpoints, and provided insight regarding the future and potential ramifications and outcomes.
After his detailed overview, attendees were given time for questions in an atmosphere of stimulating dinner conversation.
January 4, 2024
the Jerusalem Press Club took journalists on a tour of the northern border, to give them an opportunity to witness the most recent developments on this front of the Iron Swords war firsthand.
The trip included a tour of the evacuated Kibbutz Dafna, located 1.5 km from the Lebanon border. Journalists had the opportunity to speak with the director of the Kibbutz, Arik Yaacovi, and to see the site of a direct missile impact on a home in the community.
The journalists were privy to an off-the-Record briefing by Brigadier General (Res.) Alon Friedman, Commander of the Northern Command Home Front Unit. From there, the tour continued to the evacuated city of Kiryat Shmona, and concluded at Kibbutz Haon, the temporary home of evacuated residents of Kibbutz Dafna.
There participants were afforded the opportunity to meet evacuees in a hotel near the Galilee see, in which they are staying, and hear their firsthand stories.
January 4, 2024
Briefing with MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist party), head of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee
January 2, 2024
Briefing about the Supreme Court’s ruling about the Reasonableness clause, with MK Merav Michaeli, head of the Labor party
January 2, 2024
Op-ed: The International Community Must Change its Approach to Qatar
Asher Fredman, Senior Managing Fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, argues that Qatar can no longer be treated as a major Western ally while also serving as a state sponsor of terror.
December 28, 2023
To read the full op-ed, click here.
JPC organized a pre-Christmas tour of the Old City of Jerusalem for press, visiting the main sites of three Abrahamic religions and exploring the connection of each religion to the holy city.
December 21, 2023
Expert: Houthi Aggression May Deepen Israeli-Saudi Relations
Dr. Yoel Guznasky, Senior Researcher at the Middle East Institute in Washington and at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) specializing in Gulf politics & security, analyzes the Israeli options against the Houthis and the recent regional developments
“The only reason to unilaterally attack the Houthis – also, if you have good intelligence and operational capabilities, and this is a question mark [as you must] remember that Yemen is 2,000 kilometers away, but Israel has the capabilities – but then what? What do you gain by that? You might escalate and negate the situation even worse. The only reason to attack the Houthis is for the region to see, for Israel to gain some deterrence and to show other parties, namely Iran, that we can operate 2,000 kilometers away from Israel.”
“Most of the region is very passive. They are very cautious. Most of them Dislike Hamas, they want to see us crushing Hamas. This is the truth, this is what they say in [behind] closed doors. They won’t say it publicly, because then they don’t show solidarity with the Palestinians, and they need to show solidary… They are yet to choose side. They are masters of hedging, they don’t want to pick sides – and especially now, when it’s not clear who’s going to win. From private talks I had with some, they are skeptical that Israel can actually deliver and indeed terminate Hamas once and for all.”
December 20, 2023
Press conference with Adva Adar, cousin of Tamir Adar, father of two, who was kidnapped to Gaza.
December 19, 2023
The Jerusalem Press Club facilitated a gathering between the Spanish-speaking press and Ofelia Roitman, who was released by Hamas. Hernán Feler, her nephew, attended the meeting in his capacity as a journalist and soccer announcer, tirelessly advocating for the release of all kidnapped individuals.
This is the first time that a Spanish-speaking liberated woman speaks to the foreign media.
December 18, 2023
JPC was honored to host a volunteer mission from Valley Beth Shalom, Los Angeles, for a field tour of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, one of the Gaza-periphery communities devastated during Hamas’ 10/7 massacre.
The group met with Kibbutz leadership and its security team, seeing homes of victims from the attack, as well as those kidnapped and remain to date in captivity. They were also briefed by IDF officers about the ongoing war. JPC welcomes more visits from supporters abroad to learn about the efforts made by our team to facilitate international press coverage of Iron Swords.
December 14, 2023
The Jerusalem Press Club facilitated a tour of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov, in order to give journalists an inside view of Israel’s wartime healthcare system and on the treatment and rehabilitation process of hostages released from Hamas’s captivity. In addition to a tour of the hospital facilities, including the trauma center and helipad, the visit included in-depth accounts by professionals at the forefront of the medical efforts; Dr. Renana Eitan, Director of the Psychiatry Division who treated released hostages, Prof. Ronni Gamzu, CEO of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov, Dr. Orly Barak, Director of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics Division, and Dr. Eyal Hashavia, Head of Trauma. Visitors also had the opportunity to hear personal accounts of a wounded Nova Festival survivor and wounded IDF soldiers, all receiving treatment at the facility.
December 11, 2023
In the shadow of non-stop missile launches and hostile aircraft infiltration from Lebanon, as Hezbollah continues to Israeli defenses, The Jerusalem Press Club provided journalists abroad and those visiting Israel to cover the war with a bird’s eye view of Israel’s border with Lebanon using our unique virtual platform of drone footage filmed before the war. Col. (res.) Miri Eisin, Director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) and Former Deputy Head of the Israel Defense Force’s Combat Intelligence Corps led our tour and provided her latest analysis.
December 10, 2023
Conferencia de Prensa con familiar de secuestrados por Hamas en Gaza: Maayan Sigal-Koren
December 6, 2023
Weekly war briefing with former National Security Advisor, Dr. Eyal Hulata
December 5, 2023
Press Conference with Eylon Levy, Israeli government spokesperson.
December 5, 2023
Expert: Israel does not commit genocide in the Gaza Strip, should cooperate with the ICC (In Spanish)
Arie Kacowicz, Prof. of International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, analyzes the recent tension between Israel and Spain
Israel-Spain tensions
“The problem (of the recent tension) from the Israeli point of view is to look at it in zero-sum terms, whoever recognizes the Palestinian state is against Israel. In my analysis it is an erroneous position and we must differentiate between the war against Hamas and what may happen after this war.”
Recognition of the Palestinian state
“If Spain recognizes a Palestinian state, it is accelerating President Biden’s vision of two states… This is the greatest trauma for both Israelis and Palestinians since 1948, and talking about two states currently sounds like science fiction. but given the tragedy and diplomatic pressure from the United States, a process can be started with a horizon toward the two-state solution.”
ICC’s investigation
“Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip are not actions of genocide. There is no intention for so many civilians to die. And if there is one entity responsible, it is Hamas, which has said clearly that the more civilian deaths the better for Hamas… I also believe that Israel should cooperate with the ICC and make its voice heard in these investigations.”
December 4, 2023
Weekly war briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata, former National Security Advisor
November 30, 2023
The regional expectations, the international community and Iran: In depth talk w/ fmr. Deputy Ambassador to Egypt and fmr. MK
Ruth Wasserman Lande, an expert in the field of international diplomacy and the Middle East, who represented the Blue and White party in the Israeli Parliament, expresses her thoughts about various regional and global issues following the war in Gaza.
Relations with the US: “The underlying value-oriented understanding that Hamas is a terrorist organization and that this war is – if not the most justified – is extremely justified, this is something that the US and Israel are on a par.”
Prospect of the two-state solution: “The factions in the West Bank are currently fighting who will kill more Jews, and trying to take credit for who will create more havoc for the Jewish State. These are not the kind of people that I would like in any leadership neighboring Israel – And that’s not just me, as a Liberal, that’s basically almost everyone in the country, Left and Right.”
Russian ties to Hamas: “It is very clear on which side the Russians are on. They’ve met several times with Hamas… The Russians need the Iranians in order to perpetrate what they do in the Ukraine, and they are accomplice to what has happened in the Gaza Strip.”
Egypt’s role in the war: “The Hamas, in their point of view [The Egyptian point of view] is like the Muslim Brotherhood, that has long been the enemy of the regime in Egypt. They have no qualms. They don’t beautify it… they know exactly what they are capable of doing, they have experienced it first-hand, and therefore are absolutely unwilling to hear about it [allowing Gazans to enter Egypt].”
Qatari ideology: “Qatar is funding the Hamas. Qatar has a clear well-expressed interest to have Hamas continue to rule the Gaza Strip. Given the fact that Hamas has declared the annihilation of the State of Israel and every single Jew on the face of the planet, that means that Qatar has absolutely no problem with that declaration or objective… They are not trying to help civilians, they are trying to help Hamas have days of ceasefire so they could re-organize.”
Turkey’s leadership: “There is very little question of what can happen with Turkey, whether we want normalization or don’t want it, and whether we recognize that it is an important and strong country – which we do. The reality is that the leadership in Turkey currently is the same like the Muslim Brotherhood, the same as the Hamas… That doesn’t leave much space for cooperation.”
November 29, 2023
Press Conference with Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh is still a hostage in Gaza.
November 29, 2023
Pakistani journalists and influencer tour in Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Press Club, in collaboration with Sharaka NGO, recently hosted a tour for journalists primarily from Pakistan. The day included a guided tour of the Knesset, featuring an insightful presentation by Amit Halevi, a Likud MK. In the afternoon, the group explored Machane Yehuda and a nearby Chamal (“war room” with dozens of volunteers helping the evacuated families in Jerusalem).
After that, the delegation moved to the Vert Hotel to hear poignant stories from evacuees in Sderot. The day concluded with a dinner featuring Jonathan Spyer, who provided a comprehensive overview of the geopolitical landscape surrounding the current situation in Israel.
November 22, 2023
Analyst: Political Unpheaval to Resurface After War
Attila Somfalvi, Senior political analyst and strategist, speaks with the Jerusalem Press Club on the wider changes that the political system might go through after the Iron Swords War
“He [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] will try to change the perception of the Israeli public vis a vis the war, he will try to convince the Israelis that he is the right leader to continue to hold the power and rehabilitate the state after this war… Netanyahu is not going to give up. He is a fighter, he is a guy who every time he was politically buried, like a Sphinx [Phoenix] he came out of the sand and did it again.”
“There is a serious talk behind the scenes about a new right-wing conservative party to be an alternative to the Likud, who has become a ultra-right party, led by Netanyahu… The political scene is going to change, it’s not going to remain as it is right now. We are going to see tectonical [tectonic] moves, political powers coming up to seize the moment.”
November 23, 2023
Press briefing with former National Security Advisor, Dr. Eyal Hulata, following the conclusion of deal with Hamas.
November 22, 2023
Briefing to the press following the deal with Hamas, by Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaacov Amidror, former National Security Advisor.
November 22, 2023
TLV Press Conference on Minority Victims of 10/7
Featuring:
Foad Alzeadna, cousin of Yousef Ziadna, one of the kidnapped victims from the Israeli Bedouin community
Julie Fox, a volunteer working primarily with families of hostage foreign workers, including those from Thailand
Adv. Yael Vias Gvirsman, an attorney providing pro bono representation in the Hague and in domestic jurisdictions to October 7th victims
November 16, 2023
Press Conference about the sexual violence aspects of Hamas vicious attack of 7/10, organized by the Jerusalem Press Club and MediaCentral, with: Dr. Cochav Elkayam Levy, Sheri – IDF reservist in a unit dealing with identification and burial of female soldiers and Prof. Yifat Biton.
⚠️Warning: Graphic descriptions of attacks presented.⚠️
November 14, 2023
Weekly briefing on the Iron Swords War with Dr. Eyal Hulata, former National Security Advisor
Novermber 13, 2023
Briefing summarizing one month of the Iron Swords War, with Maj. Gen. (res.) Avi Mizrahi; Brig. Gen. (res.) Israela Oron; and Dr. Amb. Michael Oren.
November 10, 2023
Expert: Ending Gaza War Now an Iranian Interest
Dr. Raz Zimmt, an expert on Iran at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a research fellow at the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel-Aviv University, elaborates on Tehran’s goals and motives, one month after the beginning of the war.
“If the war would have ended today or – better for the Iranians – two or three weeks ago, this would have been a major success to the so called axis of resistance. It would show the weakness of Israel and the strength of the axis of resistance. Unfortunately for them, that’s not going to happen. And as things deteriorate even further they have to figure it out what the next stages of this war are going to be.”
“This attack was planned for a long time, that was even before the normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia began. So I would say that certainly while Iran had some interests in this attack – for example, putting back the Palestinian issue on the agenda of the global and regional top agenda.”
November 9, 2023
Briefing with Jon Medved, founder and CEO of OurCrowd, about the war and its impact on Israel economy
November 8, 2023
Expert: Hamas Use Psychological Warfare to Cause Mayhem, Shock and Awe
Dr. Ron Schleifer, senior lecturer at Ariel University and a specialist in psychological warfare in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, explains the different methods Hamas exploits to weaken the Israeli spirit.
“Psychological warfare is the weapon of the weak. Meaning, if you don’t have a gun to match your enemy’s gun, persuade your enemy not to pull the trigger – which renders its weapons useless.”
“Israel still has a long way to go in order to understand psychological warfare, and of course to perform it. It’s not within Israeli nature… to persuade the Hamas to rise against their operators or to drive a wedge that will split Hamas from inside or the Islamic Jihad – this is not the operational mode in Israel.”
November 2, 2023
Briefing on the Iron Swords war with Dr. Eyal Hulata, former National Security Advisor
November 1, 2023
Press conference with Gilad Korngold, who’s family members were kidnapped & murdered my Hamas.
November 1, 2023
The Hamas terrorists did not distinguish between those with and without disabilities, murdering Ruth Peretz, a 17-year-old with Cerebral Palsy celebrating her love of music at a Peace Festival, and Noya Dan, a Harry Potter fan with Autism who was with her grandmother.
Now, as over 200,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes as the war rages, the most vulnerable populations continue to suffer, with many having no homes to return to, their medical care in question, and critical routines a distant memory.
The Jerusalem Press Club, together with the Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund, held a briefing with experts and activists to discuss this, including:
- Ayala Davidowitz, Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Relations and Resource Development, JDC Israel Unlimited
- Dr. Tali Marcus, Executive director “Bizchut – The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities”
- Rachel Haramatta, 31 years old, immigrated from the US to Beersheba, Successfully employed at a licensed Medical Cannabis Processing Plant in Kiryat Gat with the assistance of Elwyn
- Sharon Ehrnwald, Assistant CEO for International Relations at Israel Elwyn
- Moderator: Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Co-Founder,Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund
October 31, 2023
Briefing with Dr. Tehilla Schwartz Altshuler, IDI, on the fourth dimension of modern war.
October 31, 2023
JPC organized a tour for major international news outlets along Israel’s Northern border, emphasizing the latest battles against Hezbollah. A total of 11 journalists joined us on the tour, guided by Avi Melamed, Middle East Expert, and they were able to visit evacuated cities and see military preparations for war with the Lebanese terror group.
October 31, 2023
Press Conference with Jonatan Silver, who’s his mother, a peace activist, was kidnapped by Hamas to Gaza.
October 29, 2023
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata, former National Security Advisor, on Iron Swords war in Gaza.
October 26. 2023
Hadas Kalderon, that her son Erez was kidnapped to Gaza, speaks with reporters.
October 26, 2023
Jews & Bedouins Together in Mourning over Attacks: ‘We Talked about the Pain’
Shalom Weil, teacher and education worker and the person in charge of liaisons with families of casualties in the Education Ministry’s Southern Division, spoke about his encounters with Bedouins in villages that were hit by Hamas’s rockets.
“The missiles shoot through anyone that comes. Hamas had massacred and butchered people regardless of whether they were Jewish or Muslim or anything else. It’s an act of struggle between good people and brutal people, who see terror as the means for any action.”
“I think the government’s role is quite clear: Israel has a beautiful complexity of multi-culture… The State of Israel should contain every one in an equal way, not only for rights, but also for duties, and as of being part of its strong identity, of being Israelis.”
October 25, 2023
Briefing with Amb. Dennis Ross on the Gaza War
Former special US Official Coordinator to the Middle East, former Director of Policy Planning in the State Department, and special advisor to the Secretary of State, Co-Chairman of JPPI expands on the current situation and Israel’s war against Hamas.
October 25, 2023
Experto: El Desafío de Israel es mantener su legitimidad en la guerra a lo largo del tiempo
El Dr. Daniel Wajner, Profesor Asistente del Departamento de Relaciones Internacionales y del Foro Europeo de la Universidad Hebrea de Jerusalem analiza las posibilidades que enfrenta Israel y sus desafíos en términos de legitimidad internacional
“Israel disfruta de una ventaja relativa en tres dimensiones clave de legitimidad internacional, que no siempre tuvo en operaciones previas”
▪️“La primera es la percepción de una conducta apropiada. No hay discusión de que Hamas inicio la acción y el uso de la fuerza por parte de Israel es defensivo.”
▪️“La segunda es el consenso sobre la necesidad de una contra respuesta y el apoyo internacional que recibió Israel“
▪️“La tercera es la dimensión emocional. La trágica pérdida de inocentes y el elemento barbárico por parte de la acción de Hamas genera una reacción emocional muy fuerte en las audiencias.”
October 25, 2023
One City’s population scattered in Jerusalem’s hotels: A single image of the war
Residents of Sderot (population 30,000), which was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists just 13 days ago, have found refuge in hotels around the country @ JPC’s Matias Sakkal had the opportunity to visit one of these hotels in Jerusalem and speak with the displaced, who temporarily call it home.
To read the full article, press here.
Jerusalem, October 24, 2023
First-Hand Accounts: ZAKA Volunteers’ Testimonies on the Gruesome Hamas Attack
October 17, 2023
The conference held on October 17 at the Jerusalem Press Club, featured live testimonies by several ZAKA volunteers who were the first civilian emergency responders to the horrific events of October 7th, 2023 in communities along the Gaza border. These brave individuals shared their firsthand experiences on record with the global media.
Israeli Druze: ‘When it comes to wars, I view myself as a proud Israel’
Adv. Anan Heir, resident of Pki’in, describes the feelings of a non-Jewish citizen of Israel during wartime.
“For us, the Israeli Druze, we are loyal to the State of Israel. It’s our country, and we serve in the army, and we do whatever is necessary to protect and serve our country. So if I have a Druze brothers in Syria, I expect them to serve their country too. That’s not something that contradicts our brotherhood as Druze.”
“We had many wars, we live in a tough neighborhood… We take care of each other. For example, Hurfeish, that is the nearest [Druze village] to the Northern border, they were given notices to evacuate the village if they want – and no want evacuated. We do not leave our homes, we protect our villages with whatever is necessary.”
October 23, 2023
Briefing with Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland, former National Security Advisor
October 21, 2023
Graciela Kaminsky, Resident of Sufa, who was evacuated to Eilat (In Spanish)
“We were hostages in our own homes… For 4,5,6 hours we heard gunshots while we were locked in our shelters. Until the army arrived, our own people came out to defend us and unfortunately many of them died.”
“During the evacuation, we all left in a caravan under the bombings of Hamas.”
October 20, 2023
Israel’s war with Gaza: The regional countries are waiting to see if the IDF beats Hamas significantly
Micky Aharonson, expert in international relations and former senior director for foreign policy in the National Security Council, analyzes the various positions among the international community towards Israel in the past two weeks
“The Russians never expressed any condemnation of the particular murder and slaughter of Israelis. They called in general, for all parties in the region, to avoid hurting civilians, those who are not involved. This stands in a very strong contradiction to the continued declaration of President Putin and his people, that they would make sure no harm would come especially to those Israelis who came from Russia.”
“The equation is very simple: The states in the region that normalize relations with Israel, if they leave the agreement with Israel, that would be a divorce also from the Americans, and the Americans will not forgive such a move. That’s why we can see that the Saudis have made public declarations regarding what is going on that are very balanced. They are waiting to see how Israel would beat Hamas, and to see whether the military accomplishments of Israel can be used to promote later on potential normalization with Israel.”
October 20, 2023
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata, former National Security Advisor
October 19, 2023
Testimony of Claudine AlEzra, 79 years old, who was evacuated from her home in Sderot to Jerusalem (In French)
October 19, 2023
“We try to believe that in the end we will have a normal life”
Aviya Davidi, Resident of Sderot who was evacuated to a hotel in Jerusalem, speaks about her experience.
“I have been forced to run away from my city, to leave my house, to see my friends and family running away from the things they know, to just get away from trouble and save their life… Think about it: Thousands of people running from their houses because there is a chance that tomorrow or in any moment somebody can get into their houses and murder them.”
“Here we are trying to keep our normal life together. We have here activities for young people, for old people – just [so] everybody has something to do…. It’s not normal for a whole city to leave their houses and stay in hotels, just looking for something to do.”
October 19, 2023
Biden aims to amend derailed US Middle East strategy
Prof. Eytan Gliboa, expert for US-Israel relations from the Bar-Ilan University, analyzes the goals and background of the President’s visit
“The Barbaric atrocities of Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad, committed against Israeli citizens, have delayed the effort to achieve normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The falling of Jihad’s missile, next a hospital and Gaza, and Hamas lying about it, as if Israeli Air Force carried the attack, derailed his [Biden’s] plan to coordinate with the Arab leaders of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, the possible Arab solution for Gaza, after the destruction of Hamas and Jihad.”
October 18, 2023
Press conference with Zaka volunteers who operated in southern Israel, after Hamas’ attack.
(Full conference to be uploaded later)
October 17, 2023
Briefing with Arik Agassi – Impact se on Palestinian textbooks in schools and their connection to 10/7.
October 16, 2023
Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, an Israeli-Arab, resident of southern Israel, who heads the Arava Institute, shares in this opinion piece his belief that despite Hamas’s atrocities, there is no substitute for dialogue.
“We will all have a very difficult time to overcome this trauma. However, during this war, we still run our academic program. In our classrooms, we have Palestinians, and Israelis studying together and this is the future that we would love to see for this region”.
“We all hope that this war will end very soon. Both sides are suffering. No one wins in a war, civilians on both sides are suffering and dying. The only way to stop this cycle of violence, this cycle of war is to have dialogue, to build understanding, and to build trust in order to get the just peace that we are all looking for.”
October 16, 2023
Briefing with Dr. Col. (res.) Eran Lerman on the Gaza War.
October 15, 2023
Expert: Hamas propaganda of atrocities became own goal
Prof. Shlomo Shpiro, Director of Europa Institute, Bar Ilan University, depicts in this opinion piece how he views Hamas’s attempt to use cameras to terrorize Israel during its brutal attack as an act that turned global public opinion against its own people.
“Everyone around the world is exposed to these horrific videos, and there can be no doubt anymore about the vicious intentions of Hamas against Israel, and especially against civilians. This is not war as we came to know it, this is playing barbarism. It is butchering.”
“By trying to use these videos as part of their psychological warfare, Hamas have lost that field. Maybe a few extremists around the world will be impressed by these videos and would want to join the war against Israel and against the Jews. But the modern world, the civilized world, is absolutely Abhorred.”
October 15, 2023
Human rights groups enable the use by Hamas of civilians as human shields
In this opinion piece, Anne Herzberg, legal advisor of NGO Monitor, speaks out against the silence of human rights NGOs against Hamas atrocities, while at the same time applying double standards when it comes to Israel
“Groups and individuals that proclaim to lead the movement to protect human rights and international law, and abide by humanitarian principles globally, should have been outraged, condemning the atrocities, demanding the disarmament of Hamas, and ceaselessly campaigning for the release of the 150 Israelis, including children and the elderly, being held captive.”
“If they are truly interested in protecting civilians, advancing human rights, humanitarian goals and international law, then why are they promoting policies and engaging in practices that seek to further conflict and embolden evil actors like Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah?”
October 15, 2023
Testimony of Dor Avitan: Sderot Resident Evacuated to Eilat
“Eilat is full of people like us, people that have much harder stories, people that don’t have any house to go back to.”
October 15, 2023
Testimony of Chaim Arias, Israeli American who evacuated from Moshav Shuba after the Hamas attacks.
October 15, 2023
Briefing with Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, former National Security Advisor
October 14, 2023
UN BÚNKER POR DENTRO: Así están las calles de Jerusalén en medio de conflicto – Contigo en la Mañana | Matias Sakkal
October 12, 2023
TRIGGER WARNING: Doctor’s testimony upon arrival of scene with a description of the carnage.
Testimony of Dr. Gur Ben Yehuda, who helped identify the victims of the massacre perpetrated by Hamas. Please note that Dr. Ben Yehuda has asked not to take further media requests.
“What I saw were horrifying scenes of bodies of young children and elderly who were burned alive.”
October 12, 2023
War Briefing w/Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin
Yadlin was the Former Head of the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman) and the current President of Mind Israel.
October 12, 2023
Cutting off Gaza’s electricity: Explaining the implications & effects
Dr. Elai Rettig, Expert in the field of Geopolitics of Energy and Environment, Department of Political Studies at Bar-Ilan University
“Electricity infrastructure in Gaza, that was damaged in the operation Protective Edge in 2014, Hamas never bothered to repair it, even though there was a lot of foreign aid that went specifically for Hamas to fix the grid – and they haven’t done it.”
“The major consequence [of electricity shortage] will be on water supply and water sewage treatment, that without constant electricity, the water can’t flow in the pipelines…If in a week or two weeks most of the electricity in Gaza will shut down, because of that the water supply will shut down, then that will create a major shortage.”
October 11, 2023
In parallel to the war: Antisemitism rises all over the world
Michal Cotler Wunsh, Israel’s special envoy for combatting antisemitism and former member of the Knesset
“Israel is committed to use its diplomatic relations with all countries, to with which it has relations, and some of those with which it has informal relations, in order to ensure that we safeguard the safety of Jewish communities throughout the world.”
“As long as the Palestinian Authority and its leadership peddles antisemitic hate, from holocaust denial to rejectionism of Israel’s right to exist….there can be no continued advance of any kind of prospect of peace – as oppose to what the Abraham Accords’ countries clearly showed.”
October 11, 202
“Hamas using a sophisticated social media campaign to promote its narrative in the world”
Prof. Moran Yarchi, Head of the Public Diplomacy program and Head of the Digital Influence & Perceptions specialization, School of Communications, Reichman University
“We see videos of captures citizens, including women, children, elderly people, are being taken into Gaza; We see dead bodies, we see their attack. They are very proud of their activity, they see themselves as the defenders of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and that’s part of their mission. Those videos, and their pride in their brutality, is very similar to what we have been witnessing in ISIS’s videos. So that’s something that is not new in the world of terrorism online, but it’s on a different scale than what we used to see from Hamas.”
“It’s an attempt to gain back some of the international support which they weren’t focusing on while they were presenting their success in their horrifying attacks against Israelis.”
Some of the information about Hamas’s online activity was provided by the international Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT)
October 11, 2023
Expert: We expect wider confrontation on the Northern front
Dr. Joel Parker, researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center, Tel Aviv University, focusing on Syria and Lebanon
“We have other groups, proxies of Iran such as the Houthis, who have already announced that they are ready to join in the wider ‘axis of resistance’… that alongside several other organizations in Iraq and Syria, have already indicated that they are basically in the game.”
“We will probably see the activation of the ‘axis of resistance’ against Israel, but the question is what would be the main front in the coming weeks ahead.”
October 11, 2023
Col. (res.) Miri Eisin, Director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), Former Deputy Head of the Israel Defense Force’s Combat Intelligence Corps, expand on the mentality of Hamas, terror organization, following its brutal attack on Southern Israel.
October 11, 2023
Briefing with Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, Former Director General of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs and former head of Research and Assessment Division of Israel’s Military Intelligence. Today, Gen. Kuperwasser is a senior research fellow at Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy and a senior project manager in the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Kuperwasser is also the director of the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
October 10, 2023
Prof. Jonathan Rynhold, Chair of the Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University: ‘It’s not Israel vs. the Palestinians; it’s Israel vs. Hamas’
October 10, 2023
“Llame al teléfono y me contestaron en árabe”
Rueda de Prensa con familiares de víctimas y desaparecidos tras el ataque de Hamas
JPC en colaboración con Fuente Latina te invita a escuchar el testimonio de :
▪️Itzik Horn: Padre de dos hijos secuestrados por Hamas. Yair Horn quien vive en el Kibutz Nir Oz y Eitan Horn quien vive en Kfar Saba pero se encontraba visitando a su hermano en el Kibutz del sur.
▪️Yafi Shpirer: Tía de Tomer Shpirer de 35 años que fue asesinado en el Kibutz Mefalstim. Yafi también perdió a sus primos Orly Pinko y David Shwartzman asesinados en Kfar Aza.
▪️Dalia Fishman: Hermana de Jazmin Kofman quien junto a sus dos hijas y su marido Oron Bira están desaparecidos.
October 10, 2023
Ofir Gendelman, Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, former spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister to the Arab world, describes the support Israel receives in the Arab world following the attack by Hamas
“This reminds everyone of ISIS, and it sends a clear message in the Arab world of what Hamas is. This will translate and has translated to unprecedented support of Israel that we are seeing in social media by young and older people, even in countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel – Saudi Arabia, even Kuwait, and naturally the Emirates and Morocco.”
October 10, 2023
Dr. Eyal Pinko, Former senior officer in the Israeli security services and a member of the Department of Political Studies and Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies, Bar-Ilan University, analyzes Israel’s window of operation:
“Next 24 hours are critical to what’s going to
happen in the war”
October 10, 2023
“Hamas cruzo las fronteras de Israel, pero también las fronteras de toda moralidad humana” | Matias Sakkal
October 9, 2023
Briefing with Dr. Eyal Hulata, former National Security Advisor
October 9, 2023
‘Help Bring my Family Back,’ Begs Sister of Nabbed Child: Gaya Calderon recounts the shocking events of October 7th when Hamas terrorists kidnapped her 12-year-old brother and three other family members in the Nir Oz Kibbutz.
October 9, 2023
Current reality justifies and obliges Israel to set aside its surgical strike operations | Meir Ben-Shabbat
Credit: Meir Elipur, Misgav
Head of the Jerusalem-based Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, former National Security Advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, and former chief of the Israel Security Agency’s Gaza Command
“IDF should immediately create a ‘security zone’ – an area of 300 meters all along the east side of the Gaza border fence, and announce that any Palestinian who enters this zone endangers himself. The rules of engagement should be resolute.”
“The US took a huge blow on September 11, but America made sure that its enemies paid a mighty price for this. Today, no one doubts US power and capabilities. Israeli deterrence will surely recover, too.”
Press here for the full interview.
Briefing with Ahuva Maizel, her daughter is missing from music festival massacre.
October 9, 2023
Testimony of Gitit Botera, Resident of Sderot
October 9, 2023
Testimony of Neria Davidi, Resident of Sderot
October 9, 2023
Dr. Vera Michlin Shapir, Expert of the Russian policy and politics, a Visiting Research Fellow at the King’s Centre for Strategic Communications, and author of “Fluid Russia: Between the National and the Global”, presents the way the conflict with Hamas is being looked upon by the Kremlin.
October 8, 2023
Webinar briefing with Maj . Gen. (res.) Israel Ziv, Former head of the Operations Directorate in the IDF, former commander of the Gaza Division and head of the Paratroopers and Infantry Corps, with his take on the situation in Southern Israel. General Ziv travelled to the south to participate in the combat, and can share own experiences.
October 8, 2023
Tali Levy raconte ce dont elle a ete temoin pendant la journee d’ hier depuis l’attaque terroriste sur sa ville de Sderot
October 8, 2023
Yaffa Adar, 85 years old, was abducted by Hamas to Gaza during yesterday’s unprecedented assault on Southern Israel.
As part of a joint series between JPC and Impact-SE, bringing voices from within Israel impacted by the war, we will hear from her granddaughter, Adva.
Hamas War against Israel: Iran Launching a Multi-Front Assault | Avi Melamed
October 8, 2023
Ataque de Hamas a Sderot – Testimonio de Residente en español | Eva Pinkus
October 8, 2023
Hamas Attack on Israeli South: Local Resident Testifies | Adele Raemer
October 7, 2023
Lt. Col. (res) Sarit Zehavi, CEO of Alma Center, Examines Potential Escalation in the Northern Front
October 7, 2023
