More than 1,000 rabbis from around the world have accused Israel of weaponizing hunger in Gaza, signing an open letter that calls for an end to the blockade. The letter, which has garnered signatures across the US, the UK, the EU, and Israel, argues that Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid are a moral failing that contradicts core Jewish values.
The rabbis urged Israel to allow extensive humanitarian aid to enter Gaza while ensuring that it does not reach Hamas, and called for urgent action to free hostages and end the fighting. According to the UN Palestinian refugee agency chief, Philippe Lazzarini, around 90,000 women and children are suffering from malnutrition in Gaza, with relief groups describing the situation as a man-made famine caused by the Israeli blockade.
The letter, published on Friday, surpassed 1,000 signatures by early Monday, with Jonathan Wittenberg, a UK-based rabbi, leading the campaign. He told The Jewish Chronicle that the rabbis are appealing to the moral reputation of Israel and Judaism itself, criticizing the callous indifference to the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza. Israel has blamed poor international coordination and Hamas, accusing the armed group of stealing food and attacking distribution points, and has called the famine narrative a tactic used to gain leverage in hostage talks.
West Jerusalem has pledged to improve the humanitarian response, resuming food airdrops and implementing tactical pauses to allow over 100 trucks to deliver supplies to Gaza. However, Lazzarini dismissed these measures as a smokescreen and accused Israel of whitewashing its image. He called for the blockade to be lifted to allow 6,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza, demanding immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis.