What’s happening:

J Street, a prominent Washington, DC-based advocacy group that supports a two-state solution, called on Monday for a “negotiated stop to the fighting” in Gaza to ensure the release of hostages and relief for the region’s inhabitants.

Shift in rhetoric:

Contrary to previous statements centered around immediate military responses, J Street emphasizes the need to pivot towards diplomacy to resolve the current conflict with Hamas and secure peace for the affected civilian populations. Notably absent from their statement is the term “ceasefire,” leaving some ambiguity regarding their proposed approach.

Why it matters:

The nuanced position by J Street signals a potential shift in perspective among US-based pro-Israel organizations, as they articulate a path distinct from immediate military action by supporting longer-term, diplomatic resolutions to the conflict.

Big picture:

J Street underlines the necessity for a comprehensive regional diplomatic agreement that paves the way toward a two-state solution, visioning a future where Hamas is stripped of its operational control over Gaza.

This story was first published on jpost.com.