Today, Senator Andy Kim released the following statement on a confirmed ceasefire and hostage release deal between Isreal and Hamas:

“The announcement of this ceasefire comes as a relief for the families of hostages who have been without their loved ones for 466 days, but far too late for those hostages who have been killed and the thousands of Palestinian civilians who have died since. Those of us in New Jersey are pressing for Edan Alexander to be one of those released, and I have made that clear to the White House.

“The terms of this ceasefire are only as good as the willingness of both sides to adhere to its conditions, and I strongly encourage the Israeli government and Hamas to move forward in good faith. Every day forward must be dedicated to ensuring that the tragedy of October 7^th and the events that have taken place since never happens again. The Palestinian people need immediate humanitarian assistance and support for rebuilding, and deserve a pathway to statehood, respect, and stability. That cannot happen with Hamas in charge. Hamas is a terrorist organization, an existential threat to the state of Israel, and should be removed from power. The Israeli people deserve that same security and stability and ability to defend itself from external threats.

“This must be the moment where we break the cycle of violence in the Middle East. Israeli and Palestinian families deserve a world where their children can grow up free from fear and with greater opportunity and prosperity delivered. I will work with the incoming administration to set the conditions to achieve the goal of this being the last ceasefire that is necessitated in this conflict.”

Senator Kim is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, Kim represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House and was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon.