AJC Welcomes Long-Overdue Return of the Surviving Hostages Released from Gaza

After 738 days, we are overjoyed watching the reunions of the twenty surviving hostages with their loved ones, and our hearts are with the families of the deceased hostages who await their return.

As we welcome home 20 of the 48 hostages, we hope that we will very soon be able to say that all 48 - Tamir Adar, Muhammad Al-Atarash, Matan Angrest, Sahar Baruch, Uriel Baruch, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Braslavski, Itay Chen, Nimrod Cohen, Amiram Cooper, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Evyatar David, Ronen Engel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Meny Godard, Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Tal Haimi, Asaf Hamami, Inbar Hayman, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kupershtein, Eitan Levi, Eliyahu Margalit, Omri Miran, Joshua Luito Mollel, Eitan Mor, Omer Neutra, Tamir Nimrodi, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Sontia Ok'Krasari, Avinatan Or, Dror Or, Daniel Oz, Daniel Perez, Sontisek Rintalk, Lior Rudaeff, Yossi Sharabi, Arie Zalmanowicz, Matan Zangauker - are finally back home.

Until they are all home, none of us will be whole.

While we are relieved and grateful to have finally reached this point, the work does not end once all the hostages return. As we welcome home the surviving hostages and mourn with the families of deceased hostages as they wait to bury their loved ones, we must ensure full rehabilitation for the living and the continued support for all the families who have endured extensive trauma and grief.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is both proud of and humbled by the trust hostage families and previously rescued and returned hostages have placed in us, allowing us to advocate with them across the United States and around the world to keep their stories front of mind for officials at the highest levels of government and across civil society. Their strength, determination, and selflessness are an inspiration and the Jewish people around the world are standing with them as this darkest chapter comes to a close.

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.

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