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After 468 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.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, congratulated President Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States and expressed an eagerness to once again work with the Trump administration to strengthen Israel’s place in the world and ensure a thriving and secure future for the Jewish people.

The Israeli government and Hamas have agreed to a hostage release deal after 467 days of captivity, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict. The deal, set to begin on January 20, 2025, includes the phased release of Israeli and American hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, alongside humanitarian measures and troop adjustments in Gaza. Negotiations are ongoing for subsequent phases to free remaining hostages, establish a ceasefire, and outline a plan for Gaza's future governance.

When word came that a deal had been reached that would provide a pathway for the release of the 98 hostages still held by terrorists in Gaza, I felt relieved, but I could not yet celebrate. Of course, I will enthusiastically welcome the return of the hostages and the end of the torture they have endured over the last 15 months. But until every hostage is returned home, we cannot rest.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization of the Jewish people, welcomes the launch of the “United Nations Action Plan to Monitor Antisemitism and Enhance a System-wide Response,” an initiative led by Under-Secretary-General Miguel Moratinos, the UN Focal Point for Monitoring Antisemitism and High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. This new Action Plan is the first-ever commitment by UN leadership to take action across the UN system to prevent and combat antisemitism within the organization and around the world.