Friends,
Phase I of the ceasefire is set to expire this Saturday, but getting to Phase II is far from certain.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is attempting to extend Phase I while insisting on keeping Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor, violating the ceasefire and jeopardizing future hostage releases. Meanwhile, Trump’s plan for the forcible displacement of Gazan civilians is emboldening far-right annexationists in Israel.
At the same time, Israeli society is mobilizing to protect the hostage and ceasefire deal, and public pressure may be the only thing keeping the deal alive.
For everything we’re working on this week, check out our recap below.
Nate Wolfson
Director of Communications Operations
🎗️ May Their Memories be a Blessing: This week, Israeli society came together to lay Oded Lifshitz and Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas to rest. On Wednesday evening, the requirements of Phase I of the ceasefire deal were completed when Hamas returned the bodies of another four Israeli hostages, Ohad Yahalomi, Tsahi Idan, Itzik Elgarat and Shlomo Mantzur, this time, thankfully, without an exploitative and disturbing public ceremony.
- Our Response: “No family should have to endure the anguish of a loved one being held hostage, and the priority should remain the urgent return of all Israelis still held hostage in Gaza. That means doing what is necessary to urgently move toward Phase II of the ceasefire framework by extending the current break in major hostilities, facilitating massive humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza, securing continued hostage releases, and coming to an agreement on who governs Gaza after the war,” Jeremy Ben-Ami wrote. Read our full statement here >>
⚖️ Gaza Ceasefire Hanging in the Balance: With Phase I of the Gaza ceasefire agreement set to end on Saturday, decisions made in the next few days could determine whether the ceasefire and hostage deal continues onto Phase II or collapses back into a devastating war.
- Key Issues to Watch: In a new Policy Center analysis piece, J Street Policy Center Fellow and former US Special Envoy Frank Lowenstein writes “Even if Phase II negotiations proceed, it will be very difficult to reconcile Netanyahu’s call for ‘total victory’ over Hamas and release of all remaining hostages with Hamas’ refusal to disarm and demands for credible assurances of a permanent end to the war. The effort to provide a credible Arab plan for post-war Gaza, which the Saudis and Egyptians are leading, will be key to any hopes of avoiding the resumption of a war that would be devastating for Palestinian civilians.” Read here >>
🧭 Nine Crossroads for Israel and the Region: Jeremy just got back from a J Street Congressional Delegation to Israel and the West Bank. In his latest installment of his Word on the Street Substack series, he identifies nine historic decisions that lie ahead.
- Annexation or Peace: “Israel must make the strategic choice between continuing down the messianic path toward one state without rights for all, isolation and perpetual conflict, or the path of regional normalization that I call the 23-state solution, bringing integrated security and global acceptance of Israel’s borders,” Jeremy said. Read, share and subscribe here >>
⚠️ Settler Terror and Mass Displacement in the West Bank: Violent settlers are attacking Palestinian communities in the West Bank, forcing them to fear for their property and their lives. At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Katz boasted that military operations have forced at least 40,000 Palestinians from their homes in the last month – the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
- Our Message for Trump: “If the White House wants to prevent another potentially catastrophic, entirely unnecessary conflict from igniting, it must back away from annexationist rhetoric, restrain right-wing extremists, preserve space for credible, targeted operations and restore aid to Palestinian security services even as it presses them to implement agreed reforms, Vice President and J Street Chief of Staff Adina Vogel Ayalon said. Read more >>
🔄 MAGA’s Global-Authoritarian Feedback Loop: Over the past few weeks, Trump, Musk and Vance have been using America’s vast international influence to prop up far-right leaders and undermine democratic allies in Europe. It’s a green light from the US to trample democracy, override judicial checks and balances and target vulnerable groups
- Democracy Under Attack: “It’s a total disintegration of the liberal democratic safeguards – imperfect though they have been – that have made the United States a country of choice for the Jewish diaspora, and which have kept our communities and so many others safe, free and prosperous for generations,” J Street’s Director of Government Affairs Hannah Morris writes on our Word on the Street Substack. Read the full piece here >>
🕯️Refugee Shabbat Starts Tonight!: Join thousands of people around the world in reflecting and raising awareness for displaced populations.
- Refugee Shabbat 2025, which will take place on February 28 – March 1, is a moment for congregations, organizations and individuals in the US and around the world to dedicate a Shabbat experience to refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced people. Learn how you can participate here >>
✡️ Pledge to Vote Hatikvah Slate! Voting for the World Zionist Congress opens in 9 days, an organization that allocates more than $1 billion of the Jewish people’s money annually. That money could be used to fund settlers, annexationists and extremists like Smotrich and Ben Gvir, or it could be used to advance pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy policies.
- We’re voting for the Hatikvah Slate because we support this hostage and ceasefire deal, oppose annexation and are committed to fighting for Israeli democracy. Pledge your support >>
