History and Context: Israel-Hamas War

To commemorate two months since Hamas' massacre, AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res.) tours the Nova Festival Commemoration memorial in Tel Aviv. On October 7, 2023, terrorists murdered more than 360 innocent civilians at the festival near Kibbutz Re'im.

Watch AJC CEO Ted Deutch address the increase in antisemitism since O‍ct‍obe‍r 7 at The Second Front conference hosted by The Jerusalem Post.

With the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that left over 1,210 Israelis and foreign nationals dead and 137 held hostage, there have been renewed attempts to rewrite history and assert that Jews are “foreign occupiers” with no ties to the land of Israel. Among the lies being spread is an effort to undermine Israel’s legitimacy by accusing it of being a settler-colonial state.

What does “Globalize the Intifada” mean, how is it tied to past Palestinian activist violence against Israel, and how can it lead to targeting Jews today?

At first glance, the wars in Israel and Ukraine seem unrelated and bear little similarity. One is a rapid-response counterterrorism operation, the other a years-long, multi-front defensive action focused on reclaiming and protecting sovereign territory.

The timeline here aims to address frequently asked questions about Israel's history and to help dispel misinformation about the events leading up to this point.

Following the brutal Hamas massacre on October 7, which has left over 1,210 Israelis dead, thousands wounded, and some 137 taken hostage, any discussion of peace between Israelis and Palestinians or a two-state solution seems like a very distant reality amid the Israel-Hamas War. Here is an overview of known efforts undertaken by Israeli leaders in the pursuit of security and peace.

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted for the partition of the British Mandate of Palestine, calling for the formation of a Jewish state and an Arab state. The result? Jews accepted the deal, but Arabs rejected it. Now, 76 years later, here’s what you need to know about how the plan aimed for peace in the region.

The American Jewish community is reeling not just from the shock of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack but also from the explosion in domestic Jew hatred it has provoked. Antisemitic vandalism, harassment, intimidation, and violence, including an incident last week where Queens high school students rioted over a teacher attending a pro-Israel rally, have skyrocketed across the country. Personal relationships have been shattered by the realization that some friends support Hamas.

An agreement between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas was reached on November 21 for the release of 50 Israeli hostages, who are among the over 200 taken by the terror group during the October 7 attack on Israel. While many have welcomed the deal, including AJC, it is important to make a clear distinction between the groups of people being exchanged.

On October 7th, Hamas killed, raped, tortured, and kidnapped Israeli civilians, including women and children. They take innocent Palestinians as human shields and prevent them from fleeing the combat zone. Hamas indiscriminately shoots rockets at Israeli civilian centers. All of these are clear war crimes and morally abhorrent acts and call into question how the international community could expect Hamas to adhere to a ceasefire.

Despite its dynamic democracy and thriving economy, Israel is perhaps the most misunderstood and mischaracterized country. As the world’s only Jewish state, it is unfairly singled out in global forums for condemnation over its policies and even mere existence. American Jewish Committee explores this in its tough questions series.