US Jewish leaders welcome hostage-ceasefire deal with elation, fear
Organizations are enthusiastic, but also have doubts, about the plan to release dozens of captives held in Gaza in exchange for more than a thousand Palestinian security prisoners

Jewish leaders and organizations in the United States have enthusiastically welcomed news of a hostage deal announced Wednesday between Israel and Hamas, some 15 months after the Palestinian terror group launched the war by attacking Israel on October 7, 2023.
Many have also expressed anger and doubts about a plan that will see Hamas release 33 hostages in the first phase as Israel releases over a thousand security prisoners, many of them terrorists convicted of murder.
“Every day for over 15 months, our community has held the hostages in our hearts, wept for their plight, prayed for their safe return, and mourned for those who we lost,” the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) said in a statement.
“There is much work to be done and significant uncertainty ahead, but we are hopeful that the first phase of this agreement will pave the way for the remaining hostages to be reunited with their family, for hostilities to end, and for an era of security and rebuilding for both Israel and her neighbors,” JFNA said.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said: “I’m elated to see a deal that frees 33 of the innocent men, women and children held in captivity in Gaza by the barbarians from Hamas and their accomplices. And yet all should remember — Hamas started this war with the horrific October 7 attacks, the most violent act of antisemitism since the Holocaust. Their apologists in the West excused and encouraged this barbarity. This war could have ended at any point, saving countless lives, if Hamas simply had released the hostages.”
Carol Ann Schwartz, national president of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, expressed cautious optimism, saying: “We pray that this agreement ultimately leads to the safe release of all the hostages Hamas has tortured and abused in captivity for over a year.”
“Hamas started this war and has continually rejected and violated peace proposals and deals. Hadassah will continue to advocate for Israel’s unequivocal right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens. Our hearts remain with the hostages and their families,” she added.
B’nai B’rith President Rob Spitzer and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin welcomed the agreement, but expressed uncertainty about the impact of the deal on Israel’s security.
“We remain concerned that under the current terms, Hamas—with the assistance of its patron Iran—may be able to reorganize, regenerate and sow unrest in Israel and across the region,” they said.
StandWithUs co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein also shared hesitation about the implications of the plan.
“This is a moment we’ve all been praying and working for,” Rothstein wrote. “However, given Hamas’ history of violating agreements and undermining past ceasefires, we remain vigilant in following the developments and hopeful that Hamas will adhere to the agreement.”
American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch warned that Israel’s struggle to release all the hostages is far from over.
“We cannot wait to see the first hostages come home to their families, but the critical work to free every hostage – regardless of age, gender, or nationality – must continue,” he said. “The international community must persist in its efforts to ensure that every hostage is reunited with their loved ones.”
Religious leaders expressed a mix of elation and sadness around the terms of the deal.
The Orthodox Union (OU) said the news “leaves us with a confused jumble of feelings.”
“We rejoice with the hostages who are being released, and we weep with those remaining in the hands of the Hamas monsters,” the OU wrote. “We rejoice with the hostage families reunited with their loved ones, and we weep with the many left waiting. We rejoice with those whose heroic sacrifices have brought Israel outstanding successes, and we share the frustration of many of them that their mission remains incomplete. We are infuriated by the trading of monstrous terrorists for innocent hostages, and we are fearful of the evil those monsters seek to unleash.”
“There should still be hell to pay,” the OU concluded.
The Union for Reform Judaism similarly received the news with “bittersweet joy.”
We welcome the news… with open arms to embrace and welcome home the hostages, with hearts filled with deep appreciation for all those who made this ceasefire possible, and with heartfelt prayers that, from the ashes of this enormous tragedy, a process might finally emerge that leads to true and lasting peace with security for all,” the progressive movement said.
Reform Leaders Statement on Hostage Release and Ceasefire Agreement https://t.co/5hJulekE3H
— The URJ (@URJorg) January 15, 2025
The Jewish Democratic Council of America highlighted the Biden administration’s role in securing the deal.
“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,” JDCA said.
“We thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their team for their determined and enduring leadership, support of Israel, and 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.”
We thank President Biden, VP Harris, and their team for their enduring leadership, support of Israel & commitment to ensuring the hostages’ release.
All hostages must be released following the 33 women & children whose imminent return we eagerly await. pic.twitter.com/QTPxzr76sW
— Jewish Dems (@USJewishDems) January 15, 2025
Meanwhile, the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) focused on Trump’s part in reaching the deal.
“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,” the RJC said. “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.”