I’ve had this post sitting in my draft file for a few weeks; Monday’s SCOTUS decision in Noem v. Perdomo (I write about it here) reminded me of the need to finish this post.

Not too long ago I baked a challah for Shabbat; as I often do, I was contemplating posting to social media a picture of my beautiful challah and wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom. I couldn’t do it. Shabbat is considered the holiest day of the year - it celebrates among other things, the work by G-d for creation of the earth and its life, as well as the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. On a day dedicated to celebrating rest and life, we need to pause and recognize suffering of people, even those who we may perceive as enemies.

As I have been for some time now, I struggle with what seem to be conflicting emotions - my anger towards 1) Hamas for its horrific war crimes against the Israeli population, holding both Israelis and the people of Gaza hostage, utilizing the death of Gazans for its aims, and starting this war and 2) towards Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich inflicting misery, destruction and starvation on the people of Gaza, with an apparent callous disregard for Israeli hostages and outwardly calling for “ethnic cleansing” and renewed occupation of Gaza. I was also angry to learn of Netanyahu’s prior tacit support of Hamas, and that Israeli intelligence knew for a year an attack like this was likely to happen.

Both things can be true: That Hamas is a terrorist organization willing to use the death of civilians towards its goal of destroying Israel, and the current Israeli government having little to no regard for, and in fact engaging in policies that lead to, the death and starvation of Gazans.

The Washington Post was able to take some rare aerial photos of Gaza, and the destruction is horrific. Israeli defense minister Itamar-Ben-Gvir has called for a halt to any humanitarian aid, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip (same tweet), and annexing the West Bank. Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has said Israel must “conquer, cleanse and stay”, and “with G-d’s help, the population will move to third countries as part of President Trump’s plan”. Benjamin Netanyahu is denying people are starving in Gaza. Not even Trump bought that one.

Let’s be clear - Hamas killed and raped 1,200 Israelis on October 7, and is starving and killing Israeli hostages and holding Gazans themselves as hostages. Hamas wants this war to continue - the destruction now being wrought in Gaza is actually accomplishing Hamas’ goal of isolating Israel. You think Hamas cares about the people of Gaza? If they did all they have to do is let the hostages go and put down their guns. Israeli actions are losing its hard-won legitimacy with the West, falling into Hamas’ trap.

Israel has every right to defend itself from attack. But this has long since turned into something else. Israel’s recent attack on Qatar also demonstrates the Israeli government is not interested in ending the war, as Qatar is (or perhaps now was) a key mediator in whatever talks were happening.

It is all too easy to label only Israel with the word genocide; but assigning blame solely to Israel avoids the grave responsibility that Hamas has for the current situation.

Some people may strongly disagree with me. But I ask you, are you okay with starvation as a tool of war, or the advocacy of ethnic cleansing? I am not. Israel is unique in the region as a parlimentary democracy within the 1948 borders, and a democracy should hold itself to a higher standard. I am speaking out because Israel has the power and means to stop this war, let aid into Gaza and get the remaining hostages released. It should do so.