NEW YORK – T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization representing over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in North America, cautioned the Israeli military to adhere to international law in Gaza, expressing concern for the millions of civilians in harm’s way and lacking adequate food, water, and medical supplies. They also called for the immediate, safe release of over 150 Israeli hostages — including elderly people, infants and children, and entire families — who were kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza.
In a statement, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, said:
“Our hearts are broken for our Israeli family, and all who lost family, friends, and neighbors in Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s horrific and indefensible terror attacks in Southern Israel this past Saturday. There is no possible justification for cruelly and indiscriminately murdering civilians, including children, and taking innocent people as hostages, both of which are war crimes.
“In our mourning, fear, and despair, we cannot lose our humanity. We call on the Israeli military to adhere to the laws of war and avoid civilian casualties in Gaza. The siege that has been in place since Monday essentially prevents all food, water, emergency supplies, medications, and fuel from entering the Gaza Strip. After Israel and Egypt’s 16-year blockade, the situation in Gaza is already desperate and inhumane; sealing the border will result in the deaths of more innocent people. A humanitarian corridor must be opened immediately to allow transportation of emergency supplies.
“We are deeply disturbed by those individuals, including some members of the Israeli government and a few American Jewish protesters caught on camera calling for brutal revenge on the people of Gaza. Over half of the population of Gaza are children under the age of 18, who bear no responsibility whatsoever for Hamas’s crimes. We mourn the deaths of over 140 children who have been reported killed in Gaza since Saturday. We pray for the safety of children everywhere, no matter their nationality. The vast majority of Gazans are ordinary people who simply want to live their lives; equating all Palestinians with a terrorist organization is racist. As we said in a joint statement with the Progressive Israel Network this week, Hamas’s war crimes cannot justify additional war crimes. Hamas’s brutal actions should also not be used to justify revenge attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
“Jewish tradition sets clear boundaries for just warfare, recognizing the potential painful toll on civilians. Moses Maimonides writes, “When a siege is placed around a city to conquer it, it should not be surrounded on all four sides, only on three. A place should be left for the inhabitants to flee and for all those who desire, to escape with their lives.” (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Warfare 6:7). The Israel Defense Force’s own moral code instructs, “IDF soldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisoners of war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property.”
“Most Israelis and Palestinians simply want to live their lives in peace. The road may be long, but we will never stop working toward the goal of a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. We know that a true and lasting peace will not be achieved until there is an end to the blockade of Gaza, an end to the occupation, and a just, negotiated political solution that protects the human rights of everyone.”
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About T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,300 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.