A Message from Our Executive Director

A Message from Our Executive Director: October 15th, 2024

Just hours after the conclusion of Yom Kippur, we watched in horror as the news and images from the most recent bombings in Central Gaza filtered out to the wider world. The scenes from both the tent fire near the bombed Al Aqsa Hospital, and the later strikes on a school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat are among the most devastating to emerge from Gaza since this war began just over a year ago. 

In addition to the ongoing horror of mass civilian death, we are extremely concerned about the news that Netanyahu has reportedly considered halting any renewal of ceasefire negotiations through the end of the month, and is now considering implementation of the Generals’ Plan, also known as the Eiland Plan, in northern Gaza. This plan would entail the forced transfer of the hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza still reportedly living in the north of the Gaza Strip, giving them a week to evacuate the area before cutting off all aid, and treating all remaining inhabitants of Gaza’s North as combatants. 

As we have asserted for our thirty-plus years as an organization, we believe that Israel has a right to defend itself. At the same time, the clear lack of leadership at Israel’s head, ongoing disregard for civilian life in Gaza, and now the reported use of human shields and ongoing mass death have all strengthened our call for an immediate ceasefire and hostage deal.

This war must be brought to an end, and Israel must abide by international law and do its part to stop the unprecedented turmoil now engulfing the Middle East. To be clear: the forced transfer of a civilian population, cutting off aid, and consequent starvation to the remaining population in Gaza’s north as outlined in the Eiland plan would constitute a war crime. This plan must not be implemented, and we are calling on our own US government and the international community to join us in sounding an urgent alarm. 

Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson

Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson is the Executive Director of Partners for Progressive Israel