In an unprecedented and emotionally charged move, a coalition of hundreds of Holocaust survivors and their descendants from across the globe has issued a powerful open letter condemning the Israeli government's military offensive in Gaza.
The letter, addressed directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, delivers a stark warning that the current campaign is "bearing chilling similarities" to the very genocidal acts they themselves survived. It represents one of the most significant collective interventions from within the Jewish community since the conflict began.
A Moral Appeal from History's Witnesses
The signatories, who possess the immense moral authority that comes from having endured the horrors of the Nazi regime, accuse the Israeli state of exploiting Jewish trauma to justify the killing of innocent Palestinians. They express profound anguish at witnessing a campaign they believe is "destroying the lives of Palestinians in Gaza."
The letter powerfully states: "We are alarmed by the extreme, racist dehumanization of Palestinians in the name of Jewish safety... we must never tolerate the cynical use of Jewish suffering to justify the oppression of others."
Key Demands for an Immediate Ceasefire
The group outlines several urgent demands, including:
- An immediate and permanent ceasefire.
- The unconditional release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
- The release of Palestinian prisoners and administrative detainees from Israeli jails.
- A complete end to the blockade on Gaza to allow unfettered humanitarian aid.
This plea adds to the growing international pressure on Israel, coming alongside a recent ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that found a "plausible risk of genocide" in Gaza.
A Growing Chorus of Dissent
This letter is not an isolated voice. It follows a similar petition signed by over 750 staff and students at Israeli universities and joins a chorus of dissent from prominent Jewish figures, authors, and intellectuals worldwide. They argue that true Jewish safety can never be achieved through the oppression and slaughter of another people, framing their stance as an act of profound ethical commitment rooted in their own historical experience.
