Washington, DC – In response to a congressional letter led by Representative Madeleine Dean and signed by 90 Members urging the Trump Administration to sustain its engagement with implementing the Gaza ceasefire, J Street Vice President of Government Affairs Hannah Morris issued the following statement:
“This letter sends a clear message to the White House: the United States must keep up significant pressure on both sides to ensure the ceasefire holds. We cannot afford to go back to the heartbreak and bloodshed of the past two years, and strong American leadership can make sure we don’t.
This ceasefire can – and must – become the foundation for lasting regional transformation, rather than just another pause in fighting. The United States must work with the other mediators to replace Hamas with an International Security Force and a credible interim Palestinian government. It must also ensure the IDF completes its withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas is disarmed and a reformed Palestinian Authority ultimately assumes control.
We are deeply troubled by violations of the ceasefire, including the slow pace of Hamas’s return of the bodies of the deceased hostages. The Administration must continue pressing Hamas to adhere to its commitments and urgently return the bodies of all hostages. We’ve come to know many of the hostage families firsthand and share their anguish at this unending nightmare.
We’re alarmed by the scale of Israel’s retaliatory strike on Tuesday that killed over 100 Palestinians, including dozens of children. President Trump must ensure that the Netanyahu government doesn’t give in to his extremist coalition partners seeking to reignite the war.
We stand at a moment of real opportunity for progress toward lasting regional peace, including Israel’s full regional integration and a Palestinian state. Strong, engaged American leadership will be essential to achieve it.
We extend our deepest thanks to Representative Dean for leading this effort and for her principled leadership.”