Former Israeli hostage Shoshan Haran, abducted during the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, shares her harrowing story of survival and resilience. Shoshan was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Be’eri alongside her family, including her son-in-law Tal Shoham, her daughter, and her young grandchildren. While she and the other women and children were released after 50 days in November 2023, Tal remained in Gaza for 505 days and was released in February 2025.
Everything You Need to Know About Israel
American Jewish Committee (AJC) works to set the record straight on Israel, calling out fact from fiction and standing up to those seeking to tear down and discriminate against the region’s only democratic nation and world’s only Jewish state.
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Held Hostage in Gaza: A Mother’s Fight for Freedom and Justice
When We Do Not Know What to Say - On the Repatriation of Our Dead
Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs, delivers a nourishing prayer following the return of four murdered hostages by Hamas.
What is Trump’s Proposal for Gaza?
Donald Trump has proposed that the U.S. "take over" and "own" the Gaza Strip, envisioning long-term control and the relocation of Palestinians to neighboring countries. His plan includes rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure while preventing Palestinians from returning, though Egypt and Jordan have firmly rejected the idea. This controversial proposal comes amid ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, raising concerns about its impact on regional stability and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Freed Israeli Hostages: What They Endured in Captivity and How They Survived
The January 2025 Israel-Hamas hostage agreement resulted in the release of multiple Israeli hostages after over 470 days of brutal captivity in Gaza, where they endured extreme conditions such as isolation, malnutrition, and untreated injuries. Survivors like Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Romi Gonen shared shocking accounts of their time in Hamas tunnels, while recently freed soldiers Karina Ariev and Daniella Gilboa faced forced labor and severe psychological trauma. As Israel works to secure the return of the remaining hostages, global attention is focused on the ongoing humanitarian and geopolitical crisis in Gaza.
The Gaza-Auschwitz Comparison: A Moral Failure
Replacing the memory of the Holocaust with that of other struggles—even legitimate ones—poses a grave threat and betrays the spirit of "Never again," which was meant as a universal call for vigilance, not as a pretext for contemporary hostility toward Jews.
Who are the Palestinian Prisoners Freed in the Israel-Hamas Deal?
Israel releases names of 250 Palestinian security prisoners under the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal. The swap includes Hamas, PIJ, Fatah, and PFLP members, while key figures like Marwan Barghouti remain excluded. Over 1,900 prisoners are set for exchange for 33 hostages as part of the 20-Point Peace Plan.
Israeli Hostages Freed: Inside the Emotional Reunions, High-Stakes Negotiations, and What’s Next
After 471 harrowing days in Gaza, Israeli hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher are finally reunited with their families. Julie Fishman Rayman, AJC’s Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs, discusses the emotional impact of these reunions, the high-stakes prisoner exchange deal, and the collaboration between the outgoing Biden administration and newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.
Bring Them Home: Understanding the Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal and Its Impact
After 467 days of anguish, Israel and Hamas have reached a pivotal agreement to begin releasing hostages. AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res.) Avital Leibovich breaks down the deal's details, the phased approach to releases, and the emotional toll on families and the nation. Hear about the complexities of the negotiations, the potential political fallout, and the profound resilience of those waiting for their loved ones to come home.
What’s Next for Syria and What’s at Stake for Israel, America, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and More
Will Syria’s alliance of disparate rebel groups be able to ensure prosperity and peaceful coexistence in Syria and the surrounding region? Experts from AJC’s Center for a New Middle East in Washington D.C., AJC Jerusalem, and AJC Abu Dhabi shared what they see from their vantage points.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and AJC CEO Ted Deutch on How to Build a Resilient Jewish Future Post-October 7
What lessons can be drawn from the post-October 7 era? Amid growing isolation and antisemitism, where do opportunities for hope and resilience lie for the Jewish people? AJC CEO Ted Deutch and Bernard-Henri Lévy—renowned French philosopher, public intellectual, and author of Israel Alone—explore these critical questions.
What the Mother of Hostage Edan Alexander Wants the World to Know
“Listen to me, Edan. I'm here. I'm with you. I love you. Just protect yourself. Just be safe.” These were the last words Yael Alexander spoke to her then-19 year old son, Edan, on the morning of October 7, 2023. Edan was later taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. Yael joins us from her New Jersey home to tell her story.
What to Know About the Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire, and What’s Next
On November 26, Israel’s security cabinet approved a U.S.-brokered 60-day ceasefire agreement that involves the Iranian-backed terror proxy Hezbollah that will go into effect on November 27 at 10 a.m. local time, marking a temporary halt to over a year of violent conflict. Here is what you need to know.
Honoring Israel’s Lone Soldiers This Thanksgiving: Celebrating Service and Sacrifice Away from Home
Supporting lone soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—those serving without immediate family in Israel—has never been more crucial. This Thanksgiving, hear from lone soldiers Kerren Seidner and Nate LeRoy about their experiences and how they support fellow soldiers through Ach Gadol (Big Brother), an organization dedicated to helping those serving without family support.
What to Know About Hezbollah’s Escalation Against Israel
Amid the Israel-Hamas War, fears of a wider conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terror group in Lebanon, are increasing as cross-border fighting has intensified.
What to Know About President-Elect Trump on Antisemitism, Israel, and Iran Policy
Donald J. Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on November 5, 2024, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. His record includes strong support for Israel, highlighted by initiatives such as recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, advocating for expanded peace agreements like the Abraham Accords, and taking a firm stance on Iran with sanctions and military actions. Trump has pledged to make advancing the Abraham Accords a top priority and maintain a rigorous approach to countering Iranian influence in the region.
Update: Everything You Need to Know About Rafah, Its Importance to Hamas, and Protecting Its Civilian Population
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Hamas terrorists remaining in the southern Gaza city of Rafah will be the next objective of the war. As long as Hamas operates from Rafah, Israelis are in danger of rocket fire and a reoccurrence of October 7.
Who Is Ta-Nehisi Coates? 5 Things to Know About His Controversial New Book on Israel
Who is Ta-Nehisi Coates? And what is Ta-Nehisi Coates famous for? A celebrated writer and public intellectual known for his works on race in America, he has recently stirred controversy with his new book, The Message.
5 Things to Know About Hamas Terror Leader Yahya Sinwar, ‘The Architect of October 7’
Known as the mastermind behind the October 7 Hamas massacre that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took over 250 hostages, Yahya Sinwar was one of the most wanted terrorists. On October 17, 2024, Israeli officials announced the IDF killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in the southern Gaza Strip.
What You Should Know About UNIFIL, UN Resolution 1701, and Southern Lebanon
There is a renewed interest in the 18-year-old United Nations Resolution 1701, which was intended to demilitarize the border between Israel and Lebanon, but faces one critical obstacle: Hezbollah and its state sponsor Iran.
5 Jewish Stories of Post-October 7 Strength on U.S. Campuses
Thousands of Jewish students have modeled resilience and strength in the face of exclusion and harassment since the October 7 attack on Israel. Hear are the stories of five such Jewish college students.
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