Members of Baltimore’s Jewish community have reacted with cautious hope following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered with support from the United States, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Fox News. The arrangement is designed to temporarily halt hostilities in Gaza and to enable the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees.
Howard Libit, Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, spoke about the development on Thursday, noting, “This is as close as we’ve come to securing the return of the hostages.” Despite the progress, he emphasized restraint, adding, “It’s the Middle East; events can still unfold in the next 72 hours. Until I see all surviving hostages back in Israeli custody, I am cautiously optimistic rather than fully celebrating.”
Jay Bernstein, coordinator of the Baltimore chapter of “Run for Their Lives,” an organization that holds weekly solidarity walks, also expressed hope regarding the potential release. He predicted the moment would be highly significant, stating, “The release will be dramatic. It may also be somewhat traumatic, considering the conditions in which they were held. They endured extreme inhumanity, limited food, and no sunlight for nearly two years.”
Earlier we wrote that Baltimore domestic violence deaths raise alarms: House of Ruth urges awareness and safety.
