November 6, 2025
After more than two years of war following Hamas’ October 7 massacre, a U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas marks the first phase of a potential end to the Gaza conflict. Announced by President Donald Trump on October 8 as part of his 20-point peace framework, the agreement includes the release of Israeli hostages, a limited Israeli troop withdrawal, and the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Implementation began on October 10 with Israel’s partial withdrawal from Gaza, triggering a 72-hour timeline for Hamas to release all hostages.
As part of the first phase of President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan, which stipulated that Hamas release all 48 hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire, Hamas released the 20 surviving hostages on October 13. Since then, the terror group has released only some of the remaining deceased—including Inbar Haiman, the last female hostage, and the last two remaining American citizens, Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. Hamas claims it has returned all of the bodies it was able to locate. Israel has released 2,058 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
Who are the hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups?
1. Ran Gvili
2. Dror Or
3. Lior Rudaeff
4. Meny Godard
5. Sudthisak Rinthalak
6. Hadar Goldin
Who are the surviving Israeli hostages who are back in Israel?
The following hostages returned to Israeli soil on October 13 after more than two years in Hamas captivity:
Elkana Bohbot
Matan Angrest
Avinatan Or
Yosef-Haim Ohana
Alon Ohel
Evyatar David
Guy Gilboa-Dalal
Rom Braslavski
Gali Berman
Ziv Berman
Eitan Mor
Segev Kalfon
Nimrod Cohen
Maxim Herkin
Eitan Horn
Matan Zangauker
Bar Kupershtein
David Cunio
Ariel Cunio
Omri Miran
Go Deeper:
In Times Square, AJC Calls for Hostages’ Return
AJC Welcomes Long-Overdue Return of the Surviving Hostages Released from Gaza
Gaza Peace Plan Explained: Insights from AJC Experts Across the Region
Timeline: Israel-Hamas Peace Deal and Hostage Release
AJC’s Israel at War Page
How is AJC advocating for the hostages and their families?
Since Hamas’ attack, AJC has been advocating side-by-side with more than 50 hostage families—during their visits to the United States and Europe—to keep their stories front of mind for officials at the highest levels of leadership across society, including with more than 200 members of Congress, multiple national media outlets, the U.S. State Department, major U.S. administration officials, high-ranking diplomats, faith leaders, and more.
In addition, in this episode of AJC's People of the Pod, 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.
