UK Jewish Leaders Condemn Netanyahu’s Gaza War Policies in Unprecedented Public Letter
36 members of Britain’s largest Jewish body break silence, denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza as contrary to Jewish values amid soaring civilian casualties.
Watan-About thirty representatives of the Jewish community in the United Kingdom have condemned the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, accusing it of acting in ways that contradict “Jewish values” regarding the war in Gaza. They declared that they can no longer remain “silent.”
In an open letter, 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews—the largest representative body of the Jewish community in the UK—wrote:“What is happening is intolerable… Our Jewish values compel us to stand up and speak out.”
This marks the first time since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas that members of the board have publicly criticized the Israeli government.
UK Jewish Board President Rebukes Anti-War Letter Criticizing Netanyahu
However, the board’s president, Phil Rosenberg, criticized their position on Thursday. In an article for Jewish News, he said that the letter “directly blames the Israeli government” and “barely” acknowledges Hamas’ role in the failure of ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages.
He also regretted that the letter “gives the impression—intentionally or not—that it reflects the position of the entire board and the broader British Jewish community.” He added:“This is absolutely not true, and as president, I speak on behalf of the organization as a whole.”
A spokesperson for the organization previously stated that about 10% of members signed the open letter, which was published Wednesday in the Financial Times.
The letter reads:“Israel’s soul is being torn apart.”
It says that the Netanyahu government’s policies and actions “go against our Jewish values. We oppose the war. We mourn the loss of Palestinian lives.”
UK Jewish Leaders Decry Gaza Offensive, Slam Israeli Government as “Extremist”
They also condemned the resumption of the Israeli offensive on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month ceasefire.
“We know… we cannot remain silent in the face of new casualties,” the letter states. They also noted that no Israeli hostages have been released since the bombing resumed.
The Israeli government—described as “extremist”—is also accused of “publicly encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.”
The board’s spokesperson noted that other members “may” share this stance, while adding:
“Others will undoubtedly highlight Hamas’ primary responsibility for this dire situation and the need to ensure that it is forever prevented from repeating the horrific crimes of October 7.”
During Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, 251 Israelis were taken hostage, 58 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli army says have died.
Hamas’ October 7 attack resulted in 1,218 deaths, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Since then, at least 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza—most of them civilians—according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation.
