The withholding of humanitarian aid to Gaza runs counter to Jewish values, one of the UK’s most senior rabbis has claimed.
In a column in The Observer on Sunday, Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg said he was writing out of “deep concern for Israel, my people and for all human life”.
The Senior Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue and Masorti Judaism – who emphasised that he was writing in a personal capacity –noted that Hamas’s “brutal and cunningly sadistic” attacks on October 7 had “re-awoken the worst horrors of Jewish history”.
Israel had every reason to insist that supplies should not be stolen by Hamas and to seek the complete removal of Hamas from Gaza, he added.
“But substantial quantities of aid must be allowed in,” he wrote. “Neither Jewish nor humanitarian law condones the starvation of non-combatant civilians.”
While noting that some aid had entered the territory last week, Wittenberg claimed that, if adequate supplies did not reach Gaza, this would “not just be a human tragedy but deeply damaging for Israel’s moral standing”.
The hatred suffered by Israel had “inevitably toughened Israel’s policies and, sadly, hardened hearts,” he said, adding: “But this does not excuse the withholding of basic food and medicines – not just, it should be noted, by Israel but by Egypt and especially by Hamas itself, from hopeless ordinary people, trapped in war.
“Such conduct also painfully affects the good name of Judaism… It runs counter to Judaism’s values of justice and compassion.
"It contradicts what we have painfully learned from our long history as victims of persecution and mass murder.”
While recognising that Hamas used civilians as shields and rejoiced in their deaths, he warned that “what is happening now may perversely be strengthening [Hamas] as it cynically draws Israel into the dark tunnels of destruction and blames it for what ensues”.
Israel’s policies in Gaza were also raised by a number of deputies at yesterday’s plenary meeting of the Board in London.
Board leaders were pressed to condemn the Israeli government by Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue representative Emma Brand, who asked: “Where does the Board stand on the systemic starvation of children? On the concentration of a large population in a tiny uninhabitable area of land? On ethnic cleansing?”
Israel has consistently denied causing starvation in Gaza and insisted that there is sufficient aid in the territory to feed the population. According to Israeli officials, any food shortages are the result of Hamas stealing aid and withholding it from civilians.
Israel has also denied accusations of ethnic cleansing and says the IDF intends to move civilians to “humanitarian zones” to isolate Hamas and protect non-combatants from the war.
In response, the Board’s officers pointed out that “Israel has been fighting a war on eight fronts that it did not start. Hamas, through its campaign of terror, murder, rape, destruction and kidnapping has the primary responsibility for this horrible war.”
They cited remarks made at last week’s World Jewish Congress General Assembly by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who had drawn attention to Israel’s resumption of aid.
“This step is vital in order for Israel to maintain its military capabilities, to operate in accordance with international law, and most importantly – for us to maintain our humanity within this tragedy,” he told the Assembly.
Board leadership said: “food and humanitarian assistance to civilians should never be treated as a weapon of war.
“Israel must ensure a good supply of aid, and Hamas must not steal it. We have been making representations to various authorities to this effect over recent weeks.”
In response to questions about proposals from far-right ministers to remove Palestinians from Gaza, the Board said: “We strongly oppose rhetoric or actions from any politician or official directed towards the permanent forced displacement of civilians.”
Israel’s policy is to allow any Gazans who wish to leave the Strip to do so voluntarily. There is no policy of forced displacement and the Israeli government has repeatedly emphasised its opposition to such measures.
Meanwhile, the Board continues to investigate complaints of alleged breaches of its code of conduct by 36 deputies who published a letter in the Financial Times last month criticising Israel’s resumption of military operations in Gaza.
Initially, the Board had indicated that the investigation would be concluded this month but now expects it to be completed in June.
