Over 450 prominent Jewish figures across the globe have signed an open letter to the United Nations and world leaders, calling for sanctions on Israel over what they describe as "unconscionable" actions amounting to genocide in Gaza. The letter urges accountability over Israel's conduct in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, highlighting that these laws and conventions were created in response to the Holocaust but have been repeatedly violated by Israel.
Signatories include former Israeli officials, Oscar winners, authors, intellectuals, and even US actor Wallace Shawn. They urge world leaders to uphold international court of justice rulings, halt arms transfers, impose targeted sanctions, ensure humanitarian aid to Gaza, and reject false claims of antisemitism against those advocating for peace and justice.
The letter states that the evidence accumulates that Israel's actions will be judged to have met the legal definition of genocide, bowing heads in immeasurable sorrow. The appeal comes as a sharp shift in public opinion among US Jews and the wider electorate over the last few years, with many now believing Israel has committed war crimes or genocide.
The letter also emphasizes solidarity with Palestinians is not a betrayal of Judaism but a fulfillment of it, stating that destroying one life is to destroy an entire world. The authors claim that Israel's actions are systematically aimed at destroying and ethnically cleansing Palestinians from Gaza.
Since October 7th, over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 167,000 injured in Gaza, with around 90% of the population internally displaced. The UN estimates that these conditions persist despite a ceasefire that has been repeatedly violated by Israel.
The public letter criticizes the lack of action taken by world leaders and international organizations, particularly given the findings of US Democratic senators who concluded after a fact-finding mission to the region in September that Israel is implementing a systematic plan to destroy Palestinians from Gaza. The report detailed near-total destruction of civilian infrastructure, the weaponization of food, and obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery.
The 10 October ceasefire has been repeatedly shaken by violations on both sides, with Israel accusing Hamas of violating the agreement while killing hostages' bodies and Palestinians claiming that Israeli actions will be judged as a crime against humanity. The underlying conditions of occupation remain unaddressed, with settler violence continuing in the West Bank and over 3,200 Palestinians injured this year.
Critics argue that EU foreign ministers are backing away from sanctions despite findings by the bloc's diplomatic service that there were "indications" Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement. The ICJ is expected to issue a new ruling on Israel's obligations in occupied territories later this week, but the lack of international action remains a pressing concern for many around the world.
Signatories include former Israeli officials, Oscar winners, authors, intellectuals, and even US actor Wallace Shawn. They urge world leaders to uphold international court of justice rulings, halt arms transfers, impose targeted sanctions, ensure humanitarian aid to Gaza, and reject false claims of antisemitism against those advocating for peace and justice.
The letter states that the evidence accumulates that Israel's actions will be judged to have met the legal definition of genocide, bowing heads in immeasurable sorrow. The appeal comes as a sharp shift in public opinion among US Jews and the wider electorate over the last few years, with many now believing Israel has committed war crimes or genocide.
The letter also emphasizes solidarity with Palestinians is not a betrayal of Judaism but a fulfillment of it, stating that destroying one life is to destroy an entire world. The authors claim that Israel's actions are systematically aimed at destroying and ethnically cleansing Palestinians from Gaza.
Since October 7th, over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 167,000 injured in Gaza, with around 90% of the population internally displaced. The UN estimates that these conditions persist despite a ceasefire that has been repeatedly violated by Israel.
The public letter criticizes the lack of action taken by world leaders and international organizations, particularly given the findings of US Democratic senators who concluded after a fact-finding mission to the region in September that Israel is implementing a systematic plan to destroy Palestinians from Gaza. The report detailed near-total destruction of civilian infrastructure, the weaponization of food, and obstacles to humanitarian aid delivery.
The 10 October ceasefire has been repeatedly shaken by violations on both sides, with Israel accusing Hamas of violating the agreement while killing hostages' bodies and Palestinians claiming that Israeli actions will be judged as a crime against humanity. The underlying conditions of occupation remain unaddressed, with settler violence continuing in the West Bank and over 3,200 Palestinians injured this year.
Critics argue that EU foreign ministers are backing away from sanctions despite findings by the bloc's diplomatic service that there were "indications" Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement. The ICJ is expected to issue a new ruling on Israel's obligations in occupied territories later this week, but the lack of international action remains a pressing concern for many around the world.
Over 450 signatories is massive, it shows how much pain & suffering Israel's actions have caused to Palestinians 
It's not just about peace, but human rights too 
Those EU ministers gotta step up! Sanctions are the least they can do considering what's happening on the ground 
And let's not forget those 3,200 injured this year alone 
Instead, they're stuck in silence or backing away 
. Like, what exactly do these 450 Jewish figures want? They're talking about sanctions, and I get it, Israel's actions in Gaza are super concerning, but aren't there other ways to address this problem without pitting us against each other? Can't we just try to find a middle ground here? 
I mean, I'm not saying Israel is innocent, but let's not forget that the Palestinian side has been hit hard too. It feels like we're just getting more and more entrenched in our positions instead of trying to figure out how to move forward together. 
And these Jewish figures are callin' it out, saying Israel's actions meet the legal definition of genocide. It's time for world leaders to take action 
. And can we talk about how messed up the situation is in Gaza? 65,000+ people killed, over 167,000 injured... it's just heartbreaking 
and I'm still thinking about those ice cream flavors they had... you know, like matcha and lavender? Anyway, what's up with this whole Israel thing? I feel like we're always hearing about some new development or another, and it's just so hard to keep track. Reminds me of trying to choose between three flavors of ice cream - always a tough decision! 
. Oh, and I almost forgot - have you tried those new plant-based milk alternatives? I'm a big fan of almond milk, but oat milk is giving it a run for its money 