In an open letter published by the Guardian, the signatories – including former attorney general Michael Ben‑Yair, ex‑parliament speaker Avraham Burg and Oscar‑winner Yuval Abraham – accuse Israel of “starving the people of Gaza to death and contemplating the forced removal of millions of Palestinians.” They demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire.
The appeal breaks a domestic taboo on endorsing stringent penalties against Israel. Among the other signatories are Israel Prize recipients, painter Michal Na’aman, filmmaker Ra’anan Alexandrowicz, director Samuel Maoz, poet Aharon Shabtai and choreographer Inbal Pinto.
Images of emaciated children and reports of Israeli forces shooting hungry Palestinians at food distribution points have intensified global and domestic outrage. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 21‑month war.
On Monday, Israeli rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel said for the first time that Israel is pursuing a “genocidal” policy in Gaza.
A day earlier, the Reform movement, the largest Jewish denomination in the United States, declared the Israeli government “culpable” in the territory’s spreading famine.
“Blocking food, water, medicine and power – especially for children – is indefensible,” the Reform statement said, urging Jews not to let grief “harden into indifference.”
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert this month likened a proposed “humanitarian city” on the ruins of Rafah to a concentration camp, warning that forcing Palestinians there would amount to ethnic cleansing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, government officials and right‑wing groups continue to deny that Israeli actions have caused famine in Gaza despite data from the U.N.’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification mechanism and public acknowledgment of “real starvation” by former U.S. president Donald Trump.
The letter’s authors say only heavy international pressure can compel Israel to reverse course.
“The international community must impose crippling sanctions on Israel until it ends this brutal campaign,” they write.
On Wednesday, foreign ministers from 15 Western countries appealed for global recognition of Palestine and an immediate Gaza ceasefire after a U.N. conference in New York co‑hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
(jh)
Source: Guardian, PAP