J Street Welcomes Announcement of Agreement on “First Phase” of US-backed Ceasefire Framework, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “After two years of heartbreaking bloodshed, we are deeply relieved that the remaining Israeli hostages will soon return home and that this devastating war may finally be drawing to a close. Today marks the beginning of the relief that an overwhelming majority of Israelis have long demanded and that the Palestinian people in Gaza so desperately need.”
[Video] NYT’s Michelle Goldberg on Christian Nationalism and the Jewish Future, J Street
This week on Word on the Street Live, Jeremy sat down with New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg to discuss the rise of Christian Nationalism and how it’s reshaping our country today.
Israel and Hamas Agree To Part of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan, Will Free Hostages and Prisoners, AP
“Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to pause fighting in Gaza so that the remaining hostages there can be freed in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, accepting elements of a plan put forward by the Trump administration that would represent the biggest breakthrough in months in the devastating two-year-old war.”
Families of Israeli Hostages, Mired in Anguish, Erupt Into Joy as Freedom Nears for the Captives, AP
“’Matan is coming home!’ yelled Einav Zangauker, arguably the most prominent face of the campaign to free the hostages, referring to her captive son. Her arms raised to the sky, she shouted out ‘Thank you!’ as a crowd of supporters, families of hostages, and former hostages freed earlier in the war filled the square.”
Celebration and Trepidation in Gaza and Israel Following Ceasefire Plan Agreement, CNN
“News of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas was met with celebrations and joyous scenes in both Gaza and Israel, though residents on both sides of the devastating war expressed trepidation that a deal may still fall through.”
Young Lives Cut Short on an Unimaginable Scale: The 18,457 Children on Gaza’s List of War Dead, The Guardian
“As of the end of July there were 18,457 children named on the long official list of Palestinian victims of Israel’s war in Gaza. Over almost two years, that is equivalent to bombs, bullets and shells killing a boy or girl every hour of every day.”
Israeli Opposition Leader Offers Netanyahu ‘Security Net’ on Gaza Deal, The Hill
“Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Thursday that he will offer Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a security net to retain power if far-right members exit the governing coalition over opposition to President Trump’s ceasefire deal with Hamas.”
Turkish Involvement, Doha Apology Convinced Hamas To Trust Us Will Hold Israel Back — Official, The Times of Israel
“Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey used the final hours of negotiations before a deal on Gaza was announced to convince Hamas to buy into assurances from the US that it will prevent Israel from resuming the war once the hostages are released, an Arab diplomat says.”
Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations: Prospects and Pitfalls, J Street Policy Center
J Street Policy Fellow and former US Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Frank Lowenstein writes, “This ceasefire initiative represents what may be the last best chance to end the war, return all the hostages to their families, and relieve the suffering of over two million Palestinian civilians.”
Can Trump Stop Netanyahu From Resuming the Gaza War After the Hostages Are Freed?, Haaretz
Raviv Drucker writes, “Will Trump still be there after stage one to prevent Netanyahu from resuming the war? It’s reasonable to think he will have lost interest by that point. That’s what Netanyahu is banking on.”