Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Iran - What you need to know

How many American hostages are left in Gaza? Meet the six Americans still held hostage after thousands of Hamas terrorists breached the border between Israel and Gaza intent on terrifying and destroying the Jewish state.

Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs, delivers a nourishing prayer following the return of four murdered hostages by Hamas.

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.

During the first phase of a hostage release agreement with the Hamas terror group, Israel will exchange more than 1,900 Palestinian security prisoners for 33 of the remaining hostages in Gaza over 42 days. 

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.

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.

On January 15, Israel and Hamas reached a milestone agreement that would secure the release of 33 hostages over the coming weeks, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, welcomes reports that the first stage of an agreement has been reached that will facilitate the release of 33 of the remaining hostages brutally abducted from Israel during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. It also outlines a path forward to secure the release of all remaining hostages held in inhumane conditions in Gaza and potentially end more than 15 months of war and suffering for Israelis and Gazans.

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.

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.

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.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, welcomes today’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, and hopes its enforcement can lead to enduring security for both the Israeli and Lebanese people.

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.

Get the facts about the Inverted Red Triangle, an anti-Israel symbol often weaponized under the guise of "Palestinian Resistance" to identify, harass, and target Israelis and Jews, glorify Hamas’ terror, and call for increased violence against the Jewish people.

The U.S. Treasury Department and Canadian government sanctioned Samidoun, a nonprofit posing as a Palestinian rights charity, for financially supporting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist group involved in Hamas' October 7 attacks. Cofounded in 2011 by American Charlotte Kates and her husband, PFLP member Khaled Barakat, Samidoun has also backed pro-Hamas protests on college campuses including at Columbia University; Kates was recently arrested in Canada for praising the October 7 massacre and traveled to Iran to accept a "human rights award" from the Iranian regime.

On October 1, Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, marking the largest-ever single ballistic missile attack. Israel, with the help of the U.S. and its allies, intercepted most of the missiles using its multi-layered air defense system, but some hit central Israel, resulting in casualties. The attack, which Iran claims was in retaliation for Israel's assassination of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, is part of Iran’s long-standing campaign against Israel, which it seeks to eliminate. In response, Israel is preparing for further action, with global allies condemning the attack and offering support.

Last week, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was directly responsible for the deaths of thousands and the orchestration of the October 7 terror attacks.

AJC Statement on the Death of Hamas Head Yahya Sinwar

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.

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.