NJN Celebrates the Return of the Hostages; Calls for Sustained US Leadership

October 13, 2025—New Jewish Narrative celebrates the return home of the living hostages who have been freed from Gaza. Their safe return is a moment of profound relief and shared humanity for their families, for Israelis, and for all of us who have yearned for their release.

We are also relieved by the entry of more aid into Gaza and to see Palestinians able to begin returning to what is left of their homes.

This moment, and the signing of the first phase of the peace plan in Egypt later today, must mark not only the end of captivity, but also the beginning of freedom, safety, and dignity for all who live between the river and the sea.

Just as American leadership was needed to bring about this day, American leadership will be needed to ensure continued progress. We still need to see a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the reconstruction of Gaza, the rise of a new government in Gaza assisted by the International Security Forces, and the start of credible negotiations towards a two state solution. In the West Bank, the last two years have been marked by restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement, rampant settler violence, and settlement expansion. We need to see the US work to reverse these dangerous developments.

The pain of the past two years – October 7 and all that has followed – has made it clearer than ever that there is no military solution to this conflict, and that subjugation and occupation are no alternative to genuine peace.

“President Trump has said that he has made peace, but we cannot afford for him to stop his efforts now,” said Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of New Jewish Narrative. “Now is the moment for the US to press ahead and create the conditions for a new Gaza to rise as an integral part of the future Palestinian state.”