Truce Talks and Hostages

• Numerous reports suggest that progress has been made in talks towards a comprehensive deal. The agreement would likely see a release of hostages in numerous stages, the freeing of a large number of terrorists from Israeli jails (including those serving time for the murder of civilians), and a prolonged ceasefire.
• An emerging deal would see both Israel and Hamas acknowledge that neither side would rule Gaza once an agreement is complete.
• Yesterday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that the Lebanese terror group would also abide by an agreement, even though they are not formally a party to the deal.
• Indirect talks, facilitated by mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt, continue. The US says it is cautiously optimistic about the negotiations.
• See here for the full list of those still being held hostage by Hamas.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Activities

• Significant rocket fire continues in the north. At least thirty rockets were launched at the Golan Heights yesterday, and a female IDF soldier was injured during an attack by three Hezbollah UAVs. Barrages continue today, with at least one person critically injured.
• A young couple, Nir and Noa Baranes, were killed on Tuesday when a Hezbollah rocket hit their car in the Golan. The couple left behind three children. See a complete list of civilians killed since October 7 here.
• In response, the IDF conducted widespread bombings of terror targets in southern Lebanon.
• Since October, among the thousands of attacks on Israel, Hezbollah has launched some 400 drones at the Jewish state, some of which have been used for surveillance purposes and many of which carry explosive payloads. This number has dramatically increased in recent weeks, with 130 drones being fired in June alone. Hezbollah has also launched drones to film propaganda videos that show Israeli military bases in the north. 
• Projectiles launched by Hezbollah since October 8 have left 28 Israelis dead and injured dozens more. They have also burned more than 12,000 acres of Israeli nature and forced 60,000 residents of the north to evacuate their homes for safety. 
• See here for a complete list of IDF soldiers killed since October 7.

Humanitarian Aid

• Yesterday, it was reported that 1,150 trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians – and facilitated by Israel – are waiting on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, but have not been picked up for distribution. A UN spokesman acknowledged the problem and said that the UN is “doing its best” to distribute the aid, adding that once the trucks head into Gaza, they often come under attack by the local population, which leads to looting that endangers UN staff.

International

• On Wednesday, July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver an address to a joint session of Congress. Jewish Federations of North America is encouraging members of Congress to attend the speech to stand in solidarity with Israel during its time of need.
• Yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with US President Joe Biden's Special Envoy for the Middle East, Brett McGurk, in Jerusalem.
• The US Government has released about half of the shipment of heavy bombs it has withheld from Israel since May over concerns the IDF would use them in densely populated areas of Gaza. In May, the White House announced a decision to withhold a shipment of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs.
• See this IDF video featuring vows by Hezbollah officials to destroy both Israel and America. 

Stories of Heartbreak, Heroism, and Hope

• Read this story of 20-year-old Israeli-American Edan Alexander. Edan was born in Tel Aviv and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey. He returned to Israel after graduating from high school in 2022. The oldest of three siblings, Edan is a swimmer and loves Thai and Japanese foods. His mother calls him “a great all-American kid." He planned to study business at a college in the US before he was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7.  Edan is one of five Israeli-Americans who are still being held captive by the terrorist group.  
• Many of the evacuated residents of Kiryat Shmona suffer from trauma. They find themselves in unfamiliar places without the support systems they need. Especially affected are the community’s high school students, some of whom stopped attending classes or preparing for matriculation exams which are used to determine eligibility for university studies. In partnership with the Rashi Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, and JFC-UIA Canada Coast-to-Coast, Kiryat Shmona’s Education Department ran a "boot camp" to help students prepare for their exams. Spending time away from home together with their classmates and friends gave students both the academic push they needed and a chance to heal and strengthen their resilience.