After announcements that both Israel and Hamas have accepted the terms of the peace deal brokered by President Donald Trump, Spectrum News 1 spoke with Steven Schimmel, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts and got his reaction of the latest news from the Middle East. Schimmel, "It's an apprehensive joy. We have to wait to see the hostages returned home. We don't know the condition that they'll be in. They've been held in excruciating circumstances for two years, but we're overjoyed of the news that they will be home soon. Well, there's a huge amount of healing that needs to take place. In the region, rebuilding needs to happen now, reconciliation. And if we want to have lasting peace, we need to forge relationships that will hold through difficult times."

Schimmel added that "These have been a very trying two years. After two years of such trying circumstances, I'm looking forward to a period of rebuilding, peace building, and relationship building that I hope will result in the lasting peace that so many desire across the world. It's been a very difficult time for our community locally. This has been overwhelming in so many ways, and has been the focus of our attention for a long time. We're looking forward to better days ahead, and we hope that all those around the world who seek peace will do so with us."