Leaders from Pennsylvania’s Jewish and Muslim communities welcomed a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, voicing relief and cautious optimism that it could open the door to a sustained peace.Jonathan Scott Goldman of the Jewish Coalition of Pennsylvania called the freeing of 20 living hostages an important step forward and said he hopes the first phase of the peace plan will lead to an end to the conflict, which began after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and kidnappings by Hamas.“Jewish people do not want war. We are hopeful — and nervously so — that this is the beginning of a new period of peace, and we hope that it lasts forever,” Goldman said. He added that many people touched by the fighting have endured “unimaginable horror over the last two years.”Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on social media platform X that he was pleased to see the hostages released but also hoped that the remains of those who died in captivity that had not been returned would soon be given to their families.”The end of this terrible war now offers hope and opportunity for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region. Much work remains to ensure that Hamas is disarmed and removed from power so that Gaza can be rebuilt and a path toward a broader and deeper peace can be forged in the region. Leaders with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Philadelphia expressed relief at the ceasefire and the reported release of some 1,900 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, while emphasizing the scale of loss and destruction in Gaza. “I saw reports today that people were saying, ‘I came back to nothing,’ and complete destruction — and they can’t recognize their neighborhoods, like buildings are gone, everything is gone,” said Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director of CAIR Philadelphia. Tekelioglu said he hoped that the U.S. and world leaders involved in the ceasefire would hold Israel accountable for abiding by the terms of the agreement and for military action against civilians in Gaza during the last two years.Harrisburg Palestine Coalition The Harrisburg Palestine Coalition provided a statement on the ceasefire: “After two years of relentless genocide committed by Israel and the United States against the Palestinian people, the Harrisburg Palestine Coalition celebrates with the people of Palestine as Palestinian hostages are finally released by Israel. We join calls from around the world demanding that Israel release the thousands more Palestinian hostages it continues to hold in horrific and inhumane conditions.”We also recognize that our work here in the United States continues. Israel breaks every ceasefire agreement it ever enters, including daily violations of the current agreement with Lebanon. Zionist terror attacks continue to escalate in the occupied West Bank, and Gaza along with the entirety of Palestine remain under brutal colonial occupation by Israel. We must cut off the weapons and money that flow to Israel from the United States so that Israel cannot violate this new ceasefire, resume the genocide, or continue to occupy Palestine.”We also insist that the media use accurate language to inform the public of what is happening: it calls current and former Israeli soldiers’ “hostages” while Palestinian children held by Israel are called “prisoners.” The genocide is called a “war” and a “conflict,” ignoring the one-sided nature of the horrific brutality we have witnessed Israel inflicting for two years. This language matters, and the media must not mislead the public while claiming to be neutral. The genocidal occupation of Palestine has been waged against the Palestinian people for a century, not just for two years, and we will continue to play our part in fighting to end the occupation and see a liberated, decolonized Palestine.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Leaders from Pennsylvania’s Jewish and Muslim communities welcomed a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, voicing relief and cautious optimism that it could open the door to a sustained peace.

Jonathan Scott Goldman of the Jewish Coalition of Pennsylvania called the freeing of 20 living hostages an important step forward and said he hopes the first phase of the peace plan will lead to an end to the conflict, which began after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and kidnappings by Hamas.

“Jewish people do not want war. We are hopeful — and nervously so — that this is the beginning of a new period of peace, and we hope that it lasts forever,” Goldman said. He added that many people touched by the fighting have endured “unimaginable horror over the last two years.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on social media platform X that he was pleased to see the hostages released but also hoped that the remains of those who died in captivity that had not been returned would soon be given to their families.

“The end of this terrible war now offers hope and opportunity for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region. Much work remains to ensure that Hamas is disarmed and removed from power so that Gaza can be rebuilt and a path toward a broader and deeper peace can be forged in the region.

Leaders with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Philadelphia expressed relief at the ceasefire and the reported release of some 1,900 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, while emphasizing the scale of loss and destruction in Gaza.

“I saw reports today that people were saying, ‘I came back to nothing,’ and complete destruction — and they can’t recognize their neighborhoods, like buildings are gone, everything is gone,” said Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director of CAIR Philadelphia.

Tekelioglu said he hoped that the U.S. and world leaders involved in the ceasefire would hold Israel accountable for abiding by the terms of the agreement and for military action against civilians in Gaza during the last two years.

Harrisburg Palestine Coalition

The Harrisburg Palestine Coalition provided a statement on the ceasefire:

“After two years of relentless genocide committed by Israel and the United States against the Palestinian people, the Harrisburg Palestine Coalition celebrates with the people of Palestine as Palestinian hostages are finally released by Israel. We join calls from around the world demanding that Israel release the thousands more Palestinian hostages it continues to hold in horrific and inhumane conditions.

“We also recognize that our work here in the United States continues. Israel breaks every ceasefire agreement it ever enters, including daily violations of the current agreement with Lebanon. Zionist terror attacks continue to escalate in the occupied West Bank, and Gaza along with the entirety of Palestine remain under brutal colonial occupation by Israel. We must cut off the weapons and money that flow to Israel from the United States so that Israel cannot violate this new ceasefire, resume the genocide, or continue to occupy Palestine.

“We also insist that the media use accurate language to inform the public of what is happening: it calls current and former Israeli soldiers’ “hostages” while Palestinian children held by Israel are called “prisoners.” The genocide is called a “war” and a “conflict,” ignoring the one-sided nature of the horrific brutality we have witnessed Israel inflicting for two years. This language matters, and the media must not mislead the public while claiming to be neutral. The genocidal occupation of Palestine has been waged against the Palestinian people for a century, not just for two years, and we will continue to play our part in fighting to end the occupation and see a liberated, decolonized Palestine.”