J Street works to promote an open, honest and rigorous conversation about Israel. The opinions reflected in articles posted in the News Roundup do not necessarily reflect J Street’s positions, and their posting does not constitute an endorsement from J Street.
J Street Responds to Hamas’ Handover of Four Hostage Bodies, J Street
Following Hamas’ handover of four bodies of Israeli hostages, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “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.”
MAGA’s Global-Authoritarian Feedback Loop, Substack
J Street’s Director of Government Affairs Hannah Morris warns of the alarming alignment between Trump, JD Vance and far-right authoritarian figures, highlighting the dire consequences for democracy and minority communities. She writes, “To my mind, we face a clear collective action problem – not just in our community broadly, but specifically with CEOs and media organizations who calculate that it’s easier to stay silent or bend the knee than to fight a lawsuit or punitive regulatory decisions or to face an all-out attack.”
Hamas Returns Bodies of Four Hostages and Israel Releases Hundreds of Palestinians, NPR
Late last night, Hamas returned the bodies of Itzhak Elgarat, 69; Tsachi Idan, 50; Ohad Yahalomi, 50; and 86-year-old Shlomo Mantzur. The return was unlike past hostage releases in that Hamas did not hold a ceremony to showcase the coffins. Instead, the militants handed the remains to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported them to Israel in ambulances.
Israeli Official Says the Army Won’t Withdraw From a Gaza Corridor in Potential Jolt to Truce, AP
Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor in the Gaza Strip as called for by the ceasefire, an official said Thursday. Israel’s refusal could spark a crisis with Hamas and key mediator Egypt at a sensitive moment for the fragile truce. Israel is supposed to begin withdrawing from the Philadelphi corridor on Saturday, the last day of the first phase, and complete it within eight days. There was no immediate comment from Egypt, which is opposed to any Israeli presence on the Gaza side of its border.
Hamas and Israel Say They’re Ready for More Talks As Ceasefire’s First Phase Ends, NBC News
Militant group Hamas said on Thursday it was ready to begin talks on the second phase of a ceasefire in Gaza after several hundred Palestinians were released from Israeli jails overnight in return for the bodies of four Israeli hostages. In a statement early Thursday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had ordered a delegation of negotiators to be sent to Cairo, Egypt the same day to continue talks.
Israel Has Shown ‘Unprecedented Disregard for Human Rights’ in Gaza, UN Human Rights Chief Says, Reuters
UN Human Rights Chief Volter Turk accused Israel yesterday of showing an unprecedented disregard for human rights in its military actions in Gaza and said Hamas had violated international law. “Nothing justifies the appalling manner in which Israel has conducted its military operations in Gaza which consistently breached international law.”
If Netanyahu Wants to Restart the Gaza War, the US Won’t Stand in His Way. Israelis Might, Haaretz
Amos Harel writes, “Defense establishment sources told Haaretz that they believe conditions still exist for the release of a small number of hostages, but that it will be difficult to complete the entire deal […] Hamas is demanding a high price, in the number of prisoners and in their seniority, in exchange for each hostage.” At the same time “Netanyahu is aware of the growing public sentiment favoring the deal, even at the cost of heavy concessions, with the aim of returning the last of the living and dead hostages to Israel.”
Dispute Over Disarming Hamas Bedevils Efforts To Extend Gaza Ceasefire, The Washington Post
Gerry Shih and Hazem Balousha write, “The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is at a critical juncture, with both sides facing immense political pressure that could derail further negotiations. With time running out on the first, 42-day phase of the deal […] Israel and Hamas, along with the Trump administration and Arab government mediators, appear far from reaching an agreement to proceed to the second, decisive phase of the ceasefire.”