Statement from the Simon Wiesenthal Center on the Hostage Deal

January 16, 2025

Today, we heard the news of a negotiated agreement to release living Israeli hostages and return approximately 60 dead hostages. This temporary ceasefire also involves the release of Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli prisons.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center joins the global Jewish community in praying for our brothers and sisters safe return and full recovery. It is our fervent wish that the perished be reunited with their families and receive a proper burial in the land of Israel.

While we welcome the temporary ceasefire, it cannot create yet another opportunity for Hamas to rearm or perpetuate its reign of terror. Instead, we hope this signals the start of a new chapter for innocent civilians in Gaza, who have long been used as pawns by Hamas, and that it may be a step toward 'the day after,' where peace prevails over violence.

The world will never forget that on October 7, 2023, during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and the Jewish Sabbath, Israel’s southern communities faced an unprecedented invasion by thousands of Hamas terrorists, Islamic Jihad members, and others from Gaza, marking the darkest chapter for the Jewish people since the Nazi Holocaust. Over 1,200 Israelis were brutally murdered, thousands injured, entire families annihilated, and some burned alive. Israeli women were subjected to unimaginable atrocities, including rape and murder. More than 200 Israelis were taken hostage, enduring brutalization, starvation, beatings, and, tragically, in some cases, execution.

We deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of the negotiators and offer our sincere thanks to outgoing President Biden and incoming President Trump for forcefully advocating and demanding an end to the hostage crisis. 

We remain steadfast in our mission to combat antisemitism globally and call upon the international community to continue standing against the atrocities inflicted upon the Jewish people.

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Erik Simon at esimon@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).