10.7.2023

Ilay David shares the gut-wrenching moments leading up to his brother's capture by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

At AJC Global Forum 2025, a profoundly moving session brought together powerful stories of remembrance, resilience, and hope in the wake of October 7.

At AJC Global Forum, San Francisco-born Gal Bukshpan delivered a moving firsthand account of surviving the October 7 attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel—the deadliest music event in history—where Hamas brutally murdered over 350 innocent partygoers and abducted many others into Gaza.

In the wake of October 7, 2023, the Israeli people have demonstrated remarkable resilience against unprecedented challenges. The Israeli spirit has been evident in how ordinary people stepped up in extraordinary ways—defending the country, volunteering, donating, and supporting strangers alongside their neighbors.

At AJC Global Forum 2025, Danielle Aviran, a member of ACCESS Israel, delivered a profoundly moving tribute in honor of Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. With deep emotion and clarity, she shared the story of her cousin, Amit Peled, an elite IDF soldier who was killed in battle on October 7 while heroically defending others at the Kissufim military outpost.

At AJC Global Forum 2025, families of American-Israeli hostages held by Hamas, along with a former hostage, delivered powerful and deeply moving remarks that gripped the world and stirred global conscience.

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.

Following today's return of Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz, all murdered while in terrorist captivity in Gaza, American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns with the families and all of Israel. AJC also anxiously awaits the return of Ariel and Kfir’s mother, Shiri, and the planned release of six living hostages on Saturday.

Since Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7, American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, has been advocating side-by-side with more than 50 hostage families to keep their stories front of mind for officials at the highest levels of leadership across society.

“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.

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.

“I want to show the word that you can choose light . . .no matter how much dark you saw, or what's going on in Israel now, or what's going on in the world, there's still a choice.” As we mark one year since Hamas’ massacre of Israelis, Israeli DJ Daniel Vaknin, 30, shares his harrowing experience from the Nova Music Festival, where 340 attendees were brutally murdered in the deadliest event in music history.

Who is the Bibas family? Meet the family viciously ripped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 by terrorists.

Here is what is known about the people taken hostage on October 7, the history of Hamas’ hostage-taking, how Israel has responded in the past, and the latest on hostages negotiations.

This heartfelt conversation with Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the parents of 23-year-old Hersh, was recorded before the 23-year-old, Israeli-American was murdered by Hamas terrorists in captivity in late August 2024. In this episode, Polin and Goldberg detail what they knew about their son’s abduction from the Supernova music festival on October 7 and the challenges they faced in trying to secure his rescue.

The October 7 Hamas attack severely affected Israel’s Ben Gurion University (BGU) and its surrounding community. Doug Seserman, CEO of Americans for Ben Gurion University, joins us to discuss the impact on BGU and Israel’s Negev region.

On April 13, Iran launched aerial attacks toward Israel, bringing tensions in the region to new heights. Join AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res) Avital Leibovich and AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson to discuss the unfolding situation and what it means for Israel.

Blissful ignorance is what has led to antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents on campuses, in the workplace and on the streets. Even Jews who live thousands of miles from Israel can feel like they are under siege.