Getting to Phase II: A Gaza Ceasefire Strategy, J Street
J Street Policy Fellow Yael Patir outlines a phased ceasefire strategy, emphasizing the need for a sustainable governance structure in Gaza involving Arab regional partners and a Palestinian-led administration. It highlights ongoing ceasefire challenges, Israel’s resistance to a Palestinian Authority role, and the necessity for US engagement to facilitate negotiations and prevent further conflict.
J Street’s Policy Agenda for the Trump Administration, J Street
As we enter the new, unpredictable and unsettling era of Trump’s second presidency, the J Street Policy Center’s priorities are being set accordingly. This memo outlines a number of J Street’s key policy priorities for at least the next year, but likely longer. Where the Administration’s policies run counter to our recommendations we will oppose them, but where we have overlapping interests we will support bipartisan cooperation.
Hamas Returns Bodies of Four Israeli Hostages, Including Mother and Two Children, AP
Hamas has returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were abducted during the October 7 attack. The return of their remains, part of a ceasefire agreement, has deeply affected the Israeli public, highlighting the personal tragedies resulting from the conflict.
Trump Administration Freezes Funds to Palestinian Security Forces, The Washington Post
The Trump administration has suspended all funding to the Palestinian Authority’s security forces as part of a comprehensive freeze on foreign aid programs. This decision, confirmed by US and Palestinian officials, raises concerns about the stability and security coordination in the region.
Hamas Offers Handover of All Hostages to Israel if Next Phase of Ceasefire Agreed, The Guardian
Hamas has stated it is prepared to release all remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement progresses to its next phase in March. The proposal comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from US envoy Steve Witkoff, signals potential willingness to engage in second-phase talks, despite opposition from hardliners in his coalition.
Alarmed by Trump’s Gaza Plan, Arab Leaders Brainstorm on Their Own, The New York Times
After President Donald Trump suggested expelling Gaza’s population, Arab leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are developing an alternative reconstruction plan. Their proposal, which aims to keep Palestinians in Gaza and maintain a path to statehood, faces obstacles from Israel, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority, making implementation highly complex.
Knesset Passes Law Barring Entry to Holocaust and October 7 Deniers, The Times of Israel
The Knesset has enacted legislation prohibiting individuals who deny the Holocaust or the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks from entering Israel. The law also restricts entry to those advocating for the prosecution of Israeli security personnel for actions during their service.
Americans Divided on Trump’s Support for Israel, ABC News
Recent polls indicate that most Americans disagree with former President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US should take over Gaza. A YouGov poll found that 54% of adults opposed the idea, while a Data for Progress survey showed 62% of likely voters rejected it, with minimal support for military involvement.
America Has a Historic Opportunity in the Middle East, Foreign Affairs
Philip Gordon writes, “The fate of the Middle East over the next four years will depend in large part on whether Trump manages to take advantage of these strategic opportunities or instead squanders them with his reckless impulses. Along with the new strategic landscape he inherited, Trump’s unpredictable nature could give him leverage with Iran, Israel, and the Gulf states, among others. And he could potentially sell policies to Congress—such as a nuclear deal with Iran.”
Former Biden Administration Advisor Slams Netanyahu for Obstructing US Efforts at Gaza Hostage Deal, Haaretz
Ben Samuels writes about the latest piece by Ilan Goldenberg, former Jewish Community Envoy to President Biden, “Goldenberg suggests that an earlier Biden speech could have forced Netanyahu to pursue a more centrist strategy – cutting a deal with Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, abandoning extremist coalition partners Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir and potentially leading to an agreement on elections by the end of 2024.”