Jewish Dems Applaud Tentative Agreement to Release Hostages, Grateful for Biden Administration’s Essential Leadership

WASHINGTON – Upon the announcement of an agreed-upon framework to release 33 hostages held by Hamas and begin a multi-phase ceasefire to end the war in Gaza, Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), and Susie Stern, Chair of JDCA, released the following statement:

“Since October 7, 2023, we have shared in the anguish of the hostage families as they awaited the return of their loved ones held in Gaza by Hamas. We have met with numerous hostage families and felt their extraordinary pain. Today, we are relieved and hopeful that the hostages will soon be reunited with their loved ones, and we are praying for their health given the incredibly difficult conditions they’ve endured in Hamas captivity. We also stand with the families whose loved ones are still being held in Gaza, mourn those lost at the hands of Hamas, and will not rest until every hostage is returned.

“Reports of the release of 33 hostages in the first phase of this agreement mark a critical step forward, made possible by the tireless efforts of the Biden administration. For over fifteen months, President Biden and key members of his administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk have insisted that any conversation about bringing an end to the war must include the release of the hostages, and today, we are finally seeing the result of those painstaking negotiations.

“We thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their team for their determined and enduring leadership and support of Israel and for their commitment to ensuring the hostages’ release. We strongly urge the incoming Trump administration to follow through on the measurable progress made by President Biden to end the war in Gaza and ensure that all parties honor their commitments. All hostages who have been subjected to the brutality of Hamas captivity must be released, following in the footsteps of the 33 women and children whose imminent return we eagerly await.”

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