[ ]J Street[ ]
J Street Responds to the Expiration of Phase 1 of the Ceasefire

March 2, 2025

Washington DC – As the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas
entered its 42nd day – the intended timeframe for beginning Phase II of
the agreement – J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following
statement:

“Today should have been the beginning of Phase II of the ceasefire
agreement between Israel and Hamas. The agreement has brought tremendous
benefits to all sides including the release of 25 living Israeli hostages
(including two American citizens, Keith Siegal and Sagui Dekel-Chen), 5
Thai nationals, and the remains of 8 Israelis killed either on October 7
or in captivity. It has also resulted in much-needed relief for
Palestinian civilians in Gaza and a surge of humanitarian assistance.

We strongly oppose a resumption of war – a view that is overwhelmingly
supported by the Israeli people. Instead, we believe that the best way to
get the hostages out, address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and
create conditions that ensure Hamas does not once again govern Gaza, is
through a diplomatic agreement.

We object in the strongest possible terms to Israel’s decision today to
withhold all aid to Gaza, which is a violation of US and international
humanitarian law as well as an act of collective punishment targeted at
civilians. Coming at the beginning of the month of Ramadan, it is much
more likely to undercut any pathway for an agreement to get the hostages
out and instead lead to a return to war.

We call on the US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators to do everything
possible to ensure that the Israeli government and Hamas move urgently
toward Phase II of the ceasefire framework. The current break in major
hostilities must be extended, massive humanitarian relief for the people
of Gaza must continue, further hostages must be released, and an agreement
on post-war governance in Gaza must be reached. In lieu of the ability to
begin Phase II implementation today due to the several delays in
negotiations, we support a temporary extension of Phase I in order to see
the release of more hostages, a continued surge in humanitarian
assistance, and ensure that the fighting does not restart.”

[ [link removed] ]Read this statement on our website. 


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J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the
Jewish people. Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we
advocate policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish
and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



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