Israel War Update 4/24
Israel continues military operations in Gaza with recent airstrikes targeting Hamas positions and infrastructure, including bulldozers and other equipment operatives used for planting explosives, digging tunnels, and breaching fences during the October 7 attack. This escalation comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on April 20 that Israel has “no choice” but to continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed, hostages are freed, and Gaza no longer threatens Israeli security.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue with Israeli officials reportedly in Cairo, Egypt, discussing a potential long-term truce. Despite mediators working to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, Hamas has reportedly rejected the latest Egyptian-brokered initiative, citing “impossible conditions.”
To discuss the latest developments in Israel’s campaign, JINSA is hosting a webinar featuring former JINSA Visiting IDF Fellow and current Head of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit BG Effie Defrin, JINSA Distinguished Fellow IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror and JINSA Julian & Jenny Josephson Senior Vice President for Israeli Affairs IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish.
The discussion will be moderated by JINSA President and CEO Michael Makovsky, PhD.
IDF BG Effie Defrin IDF BG Effie Defrin is a former Visiting Fellow at JINSA and a former participant in JINSA’s 2019 Brigadier Generals Military Leadership Education Program. Prior to joining JINSA, BG Defrin served as the head of the IDF’s International Cooperation Division, and previously served as Israel’s Defense Attache to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and Commander of the IDF’s 27th Armored Brigade. Since March 2025, BG Defrin has been Head of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, serving as Israel’s top military spokesperson. |
IDF MG (ret.) Yaakov Amidror IDF Major General (ret.) Yaakov Amidror is a Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy Distinguished Fellow. MG Amidror was formerly the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel, as well as the head of the National Security Council, from 2011-2013. During his 36-year career in the IDF, MG Amidror served as Commander of IDF Military Colleges, Military Secretary for the Minister of Defense, Director of the Intelligence Analysis Division, and as Intelligence Officer for the Northern Command. |
IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish IDF MG (ret.) Yaacov Ayish is the Julian and Jenny Josephson Senior Vice President for Israeli Affairs at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA). MG Ayish served in the IDF for 36 years and retired in 2016, concluding an accomplished career during which he attained the rank of Major General. Throughout his distinguished service, he served in core and operational command positions in the IDF ground forces and in senior command and managerial positions in the IDF General Staff. In his last position, MG Ayish served for four years as Israel’s Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States in Washington, D.C. |
Michael Makovsky, PhD Michael Makovsky, PhD is President and CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), which he joined in 2013. A U.S. national security expert, he has worked extensively on U.S. policy toward Iran’s nuclear program, Israel, and the broader Middle East, as well as the intersection of international energy markets and politics with U.S. national security. Makovsky has written articles, op-eds and editorials for various publications on U.S. national security issues primarily involving the Middle East as well as energy markets. He is also author of Churchill’s Promised Land (Yale University Press), a diplomatic-intellectual history of Winston Churchill’s complex relationship with Zionism. |