WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led 90 Members of Congress in a letter to President Trump in support of the ceasefire in Gaza and urging sustained American leadership to achieve further diplomatic breakthroughs.
The Members of Congress wrote following Israeli strikes in Gaza overnight that killed at least 100 people — a stark reminder of how tenuous the current moment is and the need for the Trump Administration’s continued engagement and unwavering commitment to long-term peace for Israel and Palestine.
“We welcome the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the hostages. Sustained American pressure is critical to achieving further diplomatic breakthroughs. We urge you not to ease any leverage until all phases of the agreement come into full effect,” the lawmakers wrote. “As we are already witnessing, the end to the war also marks the beginning of a longer and far more difficult process toward building durable peace, security, and stability.”
Specifically, the lawmakers call for the Trump Administration to:
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Work with regional stakeholders to establish an effective replacement for Hamas, with the goal of ultimately transitioning control of Gaza to a reformed Palestinian Authority;
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Support the IDF’s full withdrawal from Gaza;
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Oppose settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank;
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Invest long-term in Gaza’s reconstruction; and
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Lead efforts to negotiate a comprehensive regional agreement that includes a pathway to Palestinian statehood.
“We stand at a major historical hinge point. If your administration moves urgently and continues to use the leverage it has, we can move toward a future where both Israelis and Palestinians live in freedom, security, and dignity in states of their own. We urge quick action and sustained and relentless engagement to implement the next phases of your 20-point plan,” the lawmakers concluded.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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