German-Israeli Youth Exchange forms a strong link in the midst of German-Israeli relations. Hamas terror attacks on civilians of all ages in Israel on October 7, 2023 have claimed more than 1,200 lives, nearly 240 people have been kidnapped and many thousands have lost their homes. Numerous towns and villages have had to be evacuated due to the war triggered by Hamas, which is accompanied by rocket attacks on northern Israel. Around 250,000 people are refugees within Israel. Their lives are threatened and characterized by pain, grief and despair.

The ongoing war also has an impact on German society. Conflict situations and heated debates are on the rise. Distorted and demonizing images of Israel often go hand in hand with anti-Semitic arguments. Youth work and educational professionals are faced with the challenge of dealing with this situation appropriately.

ConAct, the Israel Youth Exchange Authority and the Council of Youth Movements in Israel will bring together experts from the field of youth exchange and education from January 22 to 24, 2024 to jointly develop concepts for dealing with the consequences of Hamas' attack on Israel in an educational context:

• How do we deal with the events and consequences of October 7 in the context of German-Israeli exchange?
• How can we deal with these topics appropriately in educational work with young people in Germany and Israel?
• How can we bring the voices and experiences of young people from Israel closer to young people in Germany in these challenging times?

This meeting is part of the WE ARE CONNECTED. initiative. The initiative invites German partner organizations and young people from youth, school and volunteer exchange projects to stay in close contact with their Israeli partner organizations and friends.