This past week brought closure mixed with sorrow as the body of Dror Or (48) was returned to Israel. Abducted on October 7th, the Be’eri dairy farmer was confirmed killed, leaving only two deceased hostages remaining in Gaza. In operational developments over the weekend, the IDF successfully dismantled a major Hamas command structure in Eastern Rafah, eliminating key battalion leadership attempting to flee through tunnel networks.

In the US, significant moves against academic bias occurred last week. Northwestern University faces a Title VI complaint after a professor reportedly taught the debunked ‘Hannibal Directive’ conspiracy theory as fact. This coincides with the university agreeing to a $75m settlement to address its failure to combat campus antisemitism.

It has been a volatile week for Jewish communities abroad. In Ukraine, the historic Sadigura Synagogue was targeted in an arson attack, desecrating a site of immense heritage. However, a diplomatic victory was scored in Ireland on Saturday: Dublin City Council withdrew a controversial proposal to rename ‘Herzog Park.’ The motion to erase the legacy of Irish-born Israeli President Chaim Herzog was dropped following intense backlash against what was widely viewed as a politicised attempt to erase Jewish history.