RJC Statement on Israel-Hamas Ceasefire
Washington, DC (January 15, 2025) - The Republican Jewish Coalition cautiously welcomes news that a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas that will bring the release of hostages. It has been 466 days of hell for the hostages and their families and 466 days of a terrible war. We hope Hamas will release all of the hostages swiftly and without delay.
The excruciatingly difficult calculations for Israel around getting the hostages back, releasing terrorist prisoners, and other potential details of a ceasefire agreement are matters best left to the Israeli government. We trust that the Government of Israel has done everything possible to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish state and its people, in keeping with its values. The resilience and determination of the Israeli people are truly remarkable.
We await word of the returning hostages and pray for their recovery.
We thank President-elect Donald Trump and his team for helping to move this process forward and for their unwavering support for Israel's security. President Trump's pronouncement that there would be "hell to pay" if a deal was not reached for a release of the hostages before he took office on January 20 clearly had a significant impact on closing the gaps to reach this deal.
We look forward to the strengthening of the US-Israel alliance under the incoming Trump administration, which will bring new opportunities to work toward peace, security, and cooperation for Israel and for the Middle East.