If Israelis and Jews Don't Act Now, We're Complicit: Here's How to Stop Gaza's Starvation
We Israelis and Jews abroad are all responsible for what our government is doing to Palestinians in Gaza. That is why we must demand the only effective measure left, that which the Netanyahu government cannot ignore


Protesters in Tel Aviv against the Gaza war

by Rabbi Arik Ascherman
Jul 30, 2025 7:23 pm IDT

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All people of conscience must say clearly and publicly that they oppose causing more suffering and death for Gazan children and other non-combatants. Jewish tradition teaches that there is a red line on what is permitted even when it comes self-defense: Tractate Sanhedrin forbids us from killing innocent people, even if it is to save our own lives.

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I've always wondered what, historically, has held people back from opposing their government's evil actions. After the fact, they may say they didn't know the extent of the problem, or they had always, albeit silently, been opposed. Jewish tradition teaches us that Noah was furious with God when he emerged from his ark after the flood and saw the death and destruction. God rebuked him saying, "For 60 years you built the ark and didn't utter a word of protest. Now you are angry?"

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That is why we must demand the only effective measures left, those which our government cannot ignore. We must call for a general strike of the entire Israeli economy led by the Histadrut. There can be no business as usual while we are causing people to starve in Gaza. The Histadrut needs to take the lead but there is no time to wait. Every shopkeeper and every small or large business owner must shutter their businesses. The heads of five universities have now declared their opposition, and they should act on it by striking and closing their gates. Every non-essential service that can be shut down, must be shut down.

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What will you tell your children and grandchildren when we emerge from the ark and see what we have wrought? What will you say to God when you reach the heavenly court? What will you say to yourself?

Rabbi Arik Ascherman led Rabbis For Human Rights for 21 years, and is co-founder of an interfaith human rights organization, Haqel-Jews and Arabs in Defense of Human Rights.

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-07-30/ty-article-opinion/.premium/if-israelis-and-jews-dont-act-now-were-complicit-heres-how-to-stop-gazas-starvation/00000198-5658-d669-a99d-7effd80a0000
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