As of 17 December, this letter has been signed by over 900 people. It has been sent to relevant ministers and MPs, and has begun to be covered in the press. Please continue to sign and share widely. Names will be added to the list of signatories here.
Drafted and organised by a coalition of unaffiliated Jewish people in Australia. For any questions, please email: ceasefirenow.ausjews@gmail.com
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We write, as Jews in Australia, heartbroken and grieving.
We are horrified by what we are witnessing in Gaza.
We urge the Australian government to call now for both the release of innocent hostages, and for a full ceasefire. Australia cannot stand by while Israel continues to subject Palestinian civilians to its campaign of collective punishment.
As Jews, we hold a variety of views on what will lead to sustainable peace and freedom for the people of the region. But we are unanimous in our understanding that Israel’s current actions put that goal further out of reach.
We reject the claim that the Australian Jewish community unanimously supports the actions of the Israeli government. Our Jewish values are incompatible with the unjustified cruelty and reckless disregard for human life and dignity that the Israeli government is displaying.