Jewish Clergy Urge Netanyahu for Hostage Deal

A coalition of 99 Jewish clergy from the U.S. has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a hostage deal with Hamas, emphasizing that the return of the 115 hostages is essential for the healing of the Jewish community. The statement, supported by various Jewish denominations, urges Netanyahu to accept a proposal outlined by President Biden and backed by Qatar, Egypt, and the UN Security Council, as negotiations are set to resume in Qatar. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump reached out to Netanyahu ahead of the summit to encourage him to agree to the deal, underscoring the urgency of the situation. While Israel has agreed to attend the summit, Hamas has refused to participate directly. The clergy's statement highlights that the ongoing conflict has exceeded 300 days and stresses that time is running out to bring the hostages home. The international community remains hopeful that a resolution can be reached, especially with new pressure from the U.S. and other intermediaries.