Standing Together leader Sally Abed writes to supporters.

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Since Sunday, I’ve been watching the emotional footage of thousands of Palestinians returning to northern Gaza on foot, carrying their belongings, holding children, and walking alongside relatives. In interviews, people said it was the best day they could remember, that they have been waiting for it for a year and three months. Their hope was palpable.

At the same time, in Israeli society, hope is seen in instant celebrations at the return of each hostage after so many months. Both peoples are taking a shaky breath. We are desperate for more scenes of joy, of families reunited, of life over death and destruction.

But as we celebrate, far-right politicians and their allies are working hard to sabotage the ceasefire and hostage deal. Just yesterday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has consistently called for occupation and resettlement of Gaza, said he is developing a plan to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, extremist settlers are carrying out pogroms against Palestinians almost daily while the army opens a new front with a large-scale operation.

We will not allow extremists to derail the deal. Now is the time to insist that our leaders end the war, withdraw from Gaza, and return every single hostage home. We are doubling down on our public pressure campaign, and we have a simple message: Complete ceasefire deal and nothing less.

Today (29 January) we hung banners with our message from Tel Aviv to Haifa to Jerusalem to make it clear that we won’t settle for less than a complete end to this war. Everyone must return home.

But in Gaza, despite the relative calm and quiet after 15 months of airstrikes, it is still winter. Nights are cold and with many sleeping outside of their destroyed homes or in makeshift tents, Palestinians need winter supplies.

As part of a new push in our Gaza aid campaign, we will be sending warm clothing, shoes, blankets, and tarps to insulate tents to those who need them most. We have to seize this opportunity while the ceasefire holds. Help us reach our fundraising goal and deliver winter supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.

Click here to donate to Standing Together’s Aid to Gaza campaign.

Posted on 30 January 2025