I came across a statement this week released by Rabbi B, and signed by 80 Orthodox leaders on the war in Gaza. While acknowledging Hamas’ brutality, the statement directs sharp criticism toward Israel, saying “Israel’s government must assume its share of the responsibility for the profound suffering of Gaza’s civilian population.” It argues that Israel’s prolonged campaign has devastated Gaza, that aid convoys were deliberately blocked and that restrictions on food and medicine have raised the threat of mass starvation. “Allowing an entire people to starve,” the letter says, “stands in stark contrast to Judaism’s vision of justice and compassion.”
I read the letter with shock and sadness. Not only because as someone who fought in Gaza while guarding and enabling humanitarian aid convoys to reach their destinations, much of what it says about Gaza is simply inaccurate. But even more so, it was deeply painful to see a respected figure from a community I grew up in implying that my unit and I are failing and need to “do a little better.”
The letter reflects a very Western way of thinking, imagining that an army facing a situation as complex as Gaza can simply flip a switch and “be more moral.” When prominent figures take public positions on issues this sensitive and with such high stakes, they must show humility and acknowledge their lack of on the ground knowledge. Opinions shaped by unconfirmed videos or secondhand reports cannot replace the lived reality of soldiers making life-or-death decisions or officers who must complete their mission with the responsibility of bringing their soldiers home safely. In fact, the IDF’s official instruction was to not open fire if a Hamas terrorist is spotted on a humanitarian aid truck, in order to protect the aid. This fact alone shows the gap between what you see online and reality. In the brutal reality Hamas has created in Gaza, where threats come from above, below and all around you, how can anyone fault a soldier for targeting a house that may have a terrorist waiting to kill them?
But beyond questioning the soldiers’ performance, putting out a statement like this only strengthens Hamas’ greatest weapon: victimhood. Playing into the narrative that it is Israel’s responsibility to provide aid for Gazans, without pointing out the fact that this could all be over if Hamas releases the hostages and lays down their weapons, only keeps Hamas alive. The fact that the war has dragged on this long is 100% due to the fact that those two conditions have not been met, forcing the IDF to navigate these humanitarian issues while trying to accomplish its own mission. This in turn not only harms Israelis and IDF soldiers, but the very Gazans the letter wishes to bring attention to. That is why it was so troubling to see the letter quickly picked up by the New York Times and Haaretz, two of the most anti-Israel, pro Palestinian outlets in the world. What may have been intended as moral guidance for Israel ultimately becomes propaganda for Hamas and shows how easily such statements can be weaponized against us.
I would also question why the signatories felt compelled to issue this letter in the first place. If a Jew truly feels morally obliged to shape how Israel conducts this war, there is a clear path: Make aliyah, serve alongside everyone and then take part in the democratic and Jewish debate that is rightfully ours.
We are living in historical, frightening, uncertain times here in Israel. In such times we cannot afford to waste energy fighting and justifying ourselves to fellow Jews, especially those from the Orthodox community. If we want to keep Jews connected to the Jewish faith and land, we cannot undermine Israel’s legitimacy and moral responsibility in destroying terror and objective evil, a fight which no other country or nation in the world is brave enough to take on. We must be united in our mission, showing ourselves and the world that even in these times we have each other’s backs through it all. Through this and with Hashem’s help, we will be able to defeat Hamas, return the hostages and show the world what morality truly looks like.
