Today, we honor the memory of those lost and the heroes who put themselves in harm’s way on 9/11 — the deadliest terror attack in history.

This year, we mark this solemn day as our democratic ally Israel fights the same evils of terrorism. We redouble our commitment to the shared fight for freedom, peace, and security.

Israel's 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in Jerusalem is the only memorial outside the United States listing all the names of the victims, including five Israeli citizens, and is the only 9/11 memorial in the Middle East.

In a statement today, Israel's Foreign Ministry said, "The United States and Israel stand together in grief and resilience, and in the determination to fight terror and defeat it. The memory of those who died on that fateful day, will forever live in our hearts."

Also today, the Knesset was illuminated in red, white and blue "in memory of the victims" and as "a sign of friendship and brotherhood between the two peoples."

In announcing the Knesset display, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said, "24 years ago today, the most severe terrorist attack occurred on the soil of the United States, our closest ally, when four airplanes with their passengers were hijacked by Islamist terrorists and crashed in various locations, taking the lives of nearly 3,000 souls and changing the skyline of New York."

As Israelis join Americans in marking this solemn anniversary, Israelis remain at war with terrorists who continue to threaten the Jewish state while refusing to release the 48 remaining hostages.

Through AIPAC, you help ensure America and Israel always stand together in their shared battle against terrorists committed to undermining our shared values and destroying the United States and the Jewish state.

In a Washington Post op-ed, John Spencer, Chair of the Urban Warfare Studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, writes that Israel’s upcoming operation in Gaza City is both "lawful and necessary."
 

"As Israel prepares to enter Gaza City, the disinformation campaign will intensify. Misinterpretations of the laws of war will mount. Accusations that sieges are illegal or immoral will surge. They are not."

"The end of the war depends on whether Hamas releases captives and surrenders its grip on Gaza City. No government can allow a terrorist army to maintain safe haven in a dense city while holding hostages and firing rockets. If Hamas fighters refuse, Israel is justified in completing its siege and assault until they are defeated."

Meanwhile, the IDF continues to drop leaflets and directly message residents, imploring civilians to leave the city and make their way south to safer areas. 

The IDF believes that over 200,000 civilians have left Gaza City in recent weeks, and in preparation, Israel has begun constructing new humanitarian aid sites in Rafah. 

You can read the full op-ed here.

A new NGO Monitor report based on documents recovered by the IDF in Gaza highlights Hamas systematic exploitations of “the healthcare system to provide cover for and expand its terror operations.”

In its communications, Hamas routinely orders the use of medical facilities for “gathering for many commanders of the movement [i.e. Hamas] and the government in times of escalation.”

The documents show that “Hamas imposes strict restrictions on foreign medical delegations, monitors their movement, and forces compliance with its security policies to prevent exposure of military activities.”

NGOs working in Gaza are “complicit in a system that exploits medical facilities to shield militant operation,” yet portray themselves to be neutral actors, while concealing that they work under “Hamas’ security apparatus," the report adds.

Today, the IDF eliminated Wasim Saeed Jaba‘i, a terrorist in the Iranian Imam Hossein Division and active within Hezbollah, in the Ain Baal area of Lebanon. 

Jaba'i "drove force-buildup and strengthened the division, advanced weapons procurement deals, and assisted in rocket attacks against Israel and later worked to rehabilitate the division," the IDF said.

The Iranian Imam Hossein Division is run by Iran’s Quds Force and operates with Hezbollah in Lebanon to target Israeli civilians and troops.