Return of the Hostages and Hope for Peace

The Jewish Community Relations Coalition of New Mexico (JCRC-NM) welcomes with profound relief and joy the return of the twenty live Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza since the brutal Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. At the same time, we mourn deeply for those whose bodies have been recovered, and we call for the immediate return of all remaining bodies of those who have perished.

 Nearly two years after those horrific attacks and the following conflict, which claimed the lives of over 2,000 Israelis and devastated countless families, the pain and trauma continue to reverberate across the world.

We hope for the establishment of a new administration in the Gaza Strip, one free from terror and violence, to begin the essential process of healing and rebuilding for the innocent Palestinian people, who deserve a future of peace, dignity, and hope.

 As discussions of a new peace plan begin to take shape, the JCRC-NM expresses cautious optimism that this moment may signal a true turning point toward lasting stability and coexistence.

 We are grateful to the American negotiators and to the Arab nations now joining Israel in supporting a vision of a secure and lasting peace in the region for all.

 The JCRC-NM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand with the people of Israel and to continue working toward understanding, peace, and security in Israel, New Mexico, and around the world.