WASHINGTON, DC – J Street is deeply relieved by today’s release of Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Alexander Troufanov after almost 500 days in captivity.

J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami, who was in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square earlier today, issued the following statement:

“It’s difficult to overstate how much these releases mean to the entire country of Israel. The stories of these hostages and their families are now embedded in the nation’s psyche. This release is also particularly emotional for the J Street community, which developed a meaningful relationship with Jonathan Dekel-Chen as we’ve pressed for this deal which today, finally, brought his son home.

We are profoundly thankful that US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators were able to resolve issues that threatened to bring down the ceasefire this week after threats from both Hamas and the Netanyahu government to breach the deal, and reports of violations from each side.

It is clearer than ever that immense, sustained pressure must be brought to bear on all sides to keep this deal on track. To ensure humanitarian aid gets in, hostages get out and both parties progress to the next stages of the agreement. We cannot return to the horrors of this war nor the tyranny of Hamas rule in Gaza. Every hostage must come home. The alternative is too grim to bear.

The President has to drop his outrageous plan for the US to take over Gaza and remove all the residents, and should instead focus on hammering out the details for Phase II and III. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff needs to be fully empowered to press everyone into the next stage of the deal to avoid a return to anguish, war and devastation for all.”