Israel and the War: What You Need To Know

Ran Gvili, the Last Hostage, is Finally Home→

Israel and the Region: What You Need To Know

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On October 7, Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped over 250 civilians into Gaza, wounded thousands, and fired thousands of rockets against Israeli cities and towns.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on October 8, 2025 that Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of an agreement to end the war in Gaza based on the 20-point plan released in late September, pledging the release of all hostages, a partial Israeli troop withdrawal, and the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners. As of January 26, 2026, the final deceased hostage was recovered, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, which officially marked the end of phase one of the peace deal. Israel continues to defend itself against the Iranian regime and its terror proxies throughout the region.

Follow AJC on social media for updates, and receive our regular news briefing straight to your inbox at AJC.org/Update.

Common Questions and Myths

Tough Questions on the West Bank Answered
The West Bank is a land of profound historical and religious significance to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths and a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Iran

What is Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Why is it Designated a Terror Group by the US, EU?
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is Iran’s most powerful instrument for aggression and regional destabilization. Reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the IRGC operates independently of Iran’s regular military and has built a vast network of proxy militias, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
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Antisemitism Related to the War

Explainer: Who Are Australia’s Jews and Why is Antisemitism Rising in Australia?
The Australian Jewish community, one of the oldest and largest outside Europe and the Americas, is facing an unprecedented surge in antisemitism. The December 14, 2025, Hanukkah terror attack at Bondi Beach—targeting a public Jewish celebration—underscores the urgent need for government action to protect this community and confront both domestic and foreign-driven antisemitism.
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From AJC CEO Ted Deutch

AJC CEO Calls for Jewish Organizations to Unify Over Communal Security
Following the terrorist attack at a Sydney, Australia, Hanukkah event in which 15 people were killed, American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch said that it is critical for Jewish communal organizations to join together around a campaign to protect the Jewish community worldwide and win over allies in that fight.
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What Happened on October 7, 2023

Inside the Advocacy Effort to Bring the Hostages Home
More than two years after the October 7 massacre, Hamas has agreed to return the 48 hostages still in Gaza under the U.S.-brokered peace deal. Jessica Bernton, AJC’s Director of Congressional Affairs, shares details of AJC’s joint advocacy with the hostage families of returned hostages—how personal stories, bipartisan meetings with Congress and the White House, and coordinated delegations kept the issue at the forefront.
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Israel and the War Updates

5 Things to Know About Trump’s Board of Peace?
President Trump has launched his Board of Peace, a multinational effort to oversee maintenance of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, reconstruction of Gaza after the war started by Hamas’ massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023, and restoration of order in the coastal enclave.
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Campus/Academic Resources

AJC, ADL and AEN Slam National Communication Association Report Filled with 'Libels' Against Israel
American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) are deeply troubled by the recently released report of the National Communication Association’s Task Force on Academic Freedom and Tenure.
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How We Got Here

Inside Look at Israeli Affairs: Reporting Through War and Division | AJC Global Forum 2025
At AJC Global Forum 2025, three of Israel’s leading journalists—Nave Dromi, Asaf Liberman, and moderator Nurit Canetti—discuss what it’s like to report from the frontlines of trauma, war, and political upheaval.
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Latest Videos

Examining Iran’s Domestic and Regional Challenges - AJC Advocacy Anywhere
Over the last month, cities across Iran have been scenes of widescale public protest – and the most brutal repression by government forces – as the country reels from increasing economic strains, water shortages, and outrage over the Islamist regime’s denial of fundamental rights.
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Ways to Take Action

Israel Flag
Elected Leaders: Stand with Israel
Join AJC in calling on all elected leaders to send a clear message: We stand with Israel.
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Abraham Accords
Congress: Support Israel and the Abraham Accords
Join AJC in calling on Congress to stand with Israel and support a safer, more peaceful Middle East.
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