Rabbis condemn Israel in latest show of Jewish opposition to Gaza war
A girl looks at the bodies of family members killed in a strike on 17 April 2025 in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza
Simon Hooper reports in Middle East Eye on 25 April 2025:
A group of rabbis in the UK have condemned Israel’s assault on Gaza in the latest public indication of growing dissent and opposition to the conflict within British Jewish communities.
In a letter published in the Financial Times on Friday [25 April], 30 Jewish religious leaders called on Israel to end its renewed bombing campaign and to allow aid into Gaza.
They also appeared to show support for 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the UK’s largest representative Jewish organisation, who are facing disciplinary action after speaking out about the conflict.
Referring to a previous letter in the same newspaper, in which the 36 board members said they could no longer “turn a blind eye or remain silent”, the rabbis said they were also “horrified” by Israel’s actions. “We feel it is our duty to remind Israel’s leaders of the core Jewish teaching that war can never be waged for revenge or expansion. The Israeli government must uphold international law, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza,” they wrote. “We stand with all those in Israel-Palestine seeking to bring about a just and lasting peace. We share in their call for an end to the bombing; an end to the siege; and the safe release of the hostages.”
The rabbis’ intervention appears to hint at growing frustration and impatience within British Jewish communities towards the staunchly pro-Israel stance and claims to leadership of conservative Jewish institutions such as the Board of Deputies.
Signatories of the letter include prominent figures within both Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism.