Milwaukee, WI: As Jews observed the day of Tisha B’av this past weekend, the day that memorializes the destruction of Jerusalem and both Jewish Temples, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the current moment.
The horrific acts of October 7th, 2023, claimed the lives of nearly 1,200 Israelis with another 251 hostages taken by militants beyond the border walls of Gaza. Recent videos released by Hamas show the torture being inflicted on those hostages who remain alive in tunnels.
Since October 7th, pain and suffering have been brought to both Palestinians and Israelis. Hamas and the Netanyahu Government have failed to work collaboratively to agree to a lasting ceasefire, causing further division for Palestinians, Israelis, and, ultimately, the world.
Israel has facilitated more aid into Gaza than any other nation at war in history for a civilian population. However, recent decisions of the Netanyahu Government and failures of distribution have created a humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored, nor allowed to continue.
The Jewish Caucus of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin joins collective Jewish voices of the progressive and humanitarian world speaking out over the last week in calling for the release of the hostages, a mutually-agreed ceasefire, and that every effort be made to immediately increase food, water, medical supplies, and other vital aid traveling into Gaza for distribution to its civilian population.
Below is a collection of statements from Jewish organizations we would like to share with our community:
National Council of Jewish Women:
“All Israeli and Palestinian civilians deserve to live in peace with what they need to flourish. No person should be held captive. No child should be hungry. No person should die from hunger. The measure of our humanity is how we treat those in greatest need.”
“Blocking food, water, medicine, and power—especially for children—is indefensible. Let us not allow our grief to harden into indifference, nor our love for Israel to blind us to the cries of the vulnerable. Let us rise to the moral challenge of this moment.”
“Even as we believe Hamas could end this suffering immediately through the release of the hostages and care for its civilian population, the Israeli government must do everything in its power to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need. The Jewish tradition calls upon us to ensure the provision of food, water, and medical supplies as a top priority. Aid agencies, the United Nations, and the Israeli government must act swiftly to distribute supplies currently stalled at the border so they reach the civilians who so desperately need them. We are heartened by today’s news of planned air drops of food, and encourage other creative solutions to address this crisis.”
American Jewish Committee (AJC):
We urge Israel, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the UN, and all responsible parties involved in aid distribution to increase cooperation and coordination in order to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
