Washington, DC – In response to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s announcement outlining the next steps in implementing Phase Two of the Gaza ceasefire, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement:
“J Street welcomes today’s announcement by American mediator Steve Witkoff outlining concrete steps toward implementing Phase Two of the 20-point plan that brought about a ceasefire in Gaza in October.
We support the plan’s focus on Hamas’ demilitarization, Palestinian technocratic governance and reconstruction, and believe that serious diplomacy and international cooperation are essential to saving lives and keeping open a path toward a better future for Israelis and Palestinians rather than endless war.
The humanitarian toll during Phase One was devastating: Hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, and ongoing restrictions on life-saving aid and the prevention of humanitarian aid organizations from operating in the Strip continue to leave civilians struggling to survive. Phase Two must deliver tangible relief – water, medicine, food and the ability to begin rebuilding lives – as well as the return of the last remaining deceased Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, to his family.
Moving from ceasefire to durable calm requires real commitments from all parties: The Israeli government, regional and Palestinian actors and the international community. This means prioritizing civilian protection, ensuring the steady flow of humanitarian aid and establishing accountable governance and security arrangements that can hold over time and create a viable alternative to Hamas. It also requires the Israeli government to drop its objections to the Palestinian Authority’s participation in building these new governing and security mechanisms for Gaza.
Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve a future defined by safety, dignity and freedom, not perpetual violence. J Street will continue to press the Trump Administration to sustain engagement and apply meaningful leverage where needed to support a just and meaningful peace.”