LONDON: Leaders of the British Jewish community expressed concern for Israel’s future in their first public letter opposing the resumption of military actions after 18 months of Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.
In an open letter published in the Financial Times, 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the UK’s largest Jewish representative body, said they could not “turn a blind eye or remain silent in the face of this renewed loss of life and livelihoods.”
“We write as representatives of the British Jewish community, out of love for Israel and deep concern for its future,” they wrote in the letter published on Wednesday.
They said the past 18 months of Israeli action in Gaza demonstrated that diplomacy was more effective in securing the release of 135 hostages captured by Hamas. In contrast, military action in Gaza resulted in the return of only eight hostages, with at least three being killed by Israeli forces.
The signatories noted that the Israeli government resumed its military campaign in Gaza in mid-March to fulfill far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir’s requirement for rejoining the ruling coalition, which allowed it to pass the budget and avoid an election.
They remarked that the Israeli government broke the ceasefire agreement with Hamas instead of engaging in a deal guaranteed by the US, Qatar and Egypt that would lead to the release of Israeli hostages.
“Since then, no hostages have returned. Hundreds and hundreds more Palestinians have been killed; food, fuel and medical supplies have once again been blocked from entering Gaza,” they wrote.
The Israeli war in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 50,000 people since late 2023, a situation that leading human rights groups are describing as genocide. In the UK, numerous national rallies were organized to express solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and call for a ceasefire.
The UK’s Jewish community has been adamant in supporting Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. A small minority of British Jews oppose the war in the Gaza Strip, according to the FT.
The 36 signatories to the letter represent nearly 12 percent of the 300 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. They are wary of the changes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is introducing to the country’s institutions, including the judicial system.
“The (Israeli) police increasingly resembling a militia and repressive laws are being advanced as provocative partisan populism is bitterly dividing Israeli society,” they wrote.
“Israel’s soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to.”
The signatories said they stand against the war in Gaza, “acknowledge and mourn the loss of Palestinian life,” and yearn to see an end to the conflict.
