Friends,
At times over these past few days, I’ve found it difficult to breathe.
Watching hostages finally return to their families and Gazans returning home to scenes of destruction – I’ve been feeling a painful mix of hope and anxiety, sorrow and relief.
While the chaotic scenes of the releases have been disturbing, each time I hear that a hostage has come home to Israeli soil I feel some of the weight that’s accumulated over the past 16 months lift from my shoulders. Meanwhile, friends with family in Gaza have said they’re able to sleep through the night, without fear of what the morning news may bring.
But even as families are made whole and aid finally reaches Gaza, each day we see how fragile this deal really is. Hamas is reasserting its control over the ruins of Gaza and seeking to project strength, raising questions about their commitment to the agreement.
There are also those in the Israeli government trying to sabotage this deal from within and restart this horrific conflict. Extremists in the settlement movement – inside and outside the government – are throwing fuel on the fire in the West Bank in an effort to reignite war.
Trump’s team – whose leverage I believe was crucial in sealing the deal – will need to hold everyone’s feet to the fire to get every hostage home and prevent a return to war.
Friend: Together, we need to make the case that it’s in Trump’s political interest to use the full force of US leverage on both sides to push them into the next stages of the deal and prevent a return to war, anguish and devastation.
If you agree, please add your name to our petition:
Tell Washington: Make This Ceasefire Work
We cannot restart this war. Every hostage must come home. We must keep up the pressure.
Add your name if you agree ✍️
After waiting this long – after enduring this much anguish – we cannot afford to go back.
The Trump Administration has made this deal a priority and claimed the credit for making this deal work. They know it’s good for Israelis and Palestinians and Americans alike. Nearly every Member of Congress – Democrat and Republican – continues to reiterate support for the hostage families.
But we need them to understand that to make this succeed – to get every hostage home and ensure the ceasefire holds – they will have to refuse to take no for an answer.
Fringe voices who use the illusion of “total victory” in Gaza as a pretext for endless war and occupation cannot be allowed to sabotage this deal and sacrifice the lives of hostages. Each side must be held to account and pressed to agree to acceptable, if imperfect, outcomes at each stage. Our leaders will have to work on a bipartisan basis and use the full force of US power.
If you agree, please add your name to our petition today >>
In support of all the hostage families and civilians in Gaza, I want to thank you, sincerely, for your consideration. Together, we have to keep up the pressure.
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Vice President, J Street
