October 13, 2023 — New York, NY
American Jewish Committee, the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today was joined by more than 110 Jewish organizations from more than 40 countries in urging the United Nations and all governments to take swift action to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the estimated 200 hostages being held by Hamas after its terror massacre against Israel on October 7.
In their letter to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, as well as 340 UN Ambassadors and U.S. Ambassadors, the groups state:
The deliberate murder, abduction, and kidnapping of innocent civilians are deemed war crimes that are absolutely prohibited by international law[…] While Israelis were the clear target of these attacks, they were not their only victims. More than 120 people have been kidnapped and taken into Gaza. We know that the hostages include nationals of at least ten countries in addition to Israel: the U.S., France, Thailand, Germany, Nepal, Canada, Ukraine, Mexico, Brazil, and more. Argentina, Philippines, Austria, Chile, Italy, Paraguay, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Colombia, Panama, and Ireland all have missing nationals. The entire globe is represented among those being held captive. Hamas has threatened to execute them publicly, and the threat must be taken seriously given the brutality of the acts it has already committed, which include the murder of entire families and the killing of as many as 40 babies – some decapitated – in a single location.
The condition of many of the hostages remains unknown, yet we know some are in dire need of urgent medical care.
The organizations expressed appreciation that Secretary-General Guterres and many governments have already condemned Hamas’s attack and urged them to urgently redouble their efforts to secure the hostages’ release. They stressed, “Time is of the essence, and the lives of these hostages hang in the balance. The world’s response to this atrocity will echo in the annals of history.”
The letter was signed by; American Jewish Committee, Bene Israel Heritage Museum & Genealogical Research Center, Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities, Minyan Sefaradi Guatemala, European Union of Jewish Students, Shaarey Binyamin Synagogue, Chapines Por Israel, Comunidad Israelita de El Salvador, Comunidad Judía Guatemala (CJG), Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria, Jewish Community of Chile, Jewish Community Of Malta, Kehila de Mexico, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, B’nai B’rith International, Jewish Community of Japan, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ), Women International Zionist Organization (WIZO), American Friends of Likud, Emunah of America, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Religious Zionists of America, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of New York, The Jewish Community of Zagreb and Coordination Committee of the Jewish Communities in the Republic of Croatia, Jewish Community Center - Taipei, Federation of Jewish Communities in Czech Republic, AMIT Children, Explore Jewish India, Congreso Judio Panameño, Jewish Community of Paraguay, American Zionist Movement, Zionist Federation of India, ASR Romanian Sionist Association, Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium (CCOJB), Union of Jewish Communities in Poland, Jewish Community of Paraguay, AMIA, Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica, Rabbinical Council of America, Centro Israelita de la República Dominicana, Hillel International, Jewish Women International (JWI), Union for Reform Judaism, Arzenu Hungary, Comite Central Israelita del Uruguay, Consejo Sionista de Mexico, Federation of Jewish Organizations and Communities-Vaad, National Council of Young Israel, Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom, European Union for Progressive Judaism, Shaare Tefila Congregation, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Confederation of Jewish Associations of Venezuela (CAIV), Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Americans for Peace Now, New Israel Fund, New Israel Fund UK, Hashomer Hatzair UK, Shas Olami America, A Wider Bridge, Endowment for Middle East Truth, Club Z, B'nai Zion and Am Yisrael Foundation, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish Community of Madrid, International Rabbinic Fellowship, Students Supporting Israel (SSI), Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, National Council of Jewish Women, Zionist Federation of Hungary, Zionist Organisation of Belgium, Federación de Comunidades Judías de España, MERCAZ USA, Vice President of the Zionist Council in Mexico, Zioistische Organisation in Deutschland e.V. (ZOD), Comite Central de la Comunidad Judia de Mexico, Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Myanmar Jewish Community, The Israel Forever Foundation, Zionist Rabbinic Coalition, American Jewish Congress, Zionist Federation of Australia, NA'AMAT USA, South Africa Jewish Board of Deputies, World Union for Progressive Judaism, International March of the Living, Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, ORT America, American Sephardi Federation, Zionism Victoria, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Young Judaea Global, Women of Reform Judaism, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, BICOM, Belgian Friends of Israel, ISRAEL-is, Israel Spain Forum Alliance (ISFA), International Movement for Peace and Coexistence, Union of the Italian Jewish Community (UCEI), Brighton & Hove Jewish Community (BHJC), UK Lawyers for Israel, Maccabi, Honestly Concerned, South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS), JCC Association of North America, Med Israel for fred (MIFF, With Israel for Peace), Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia, Rabbinical Assembly, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Jewish Federations of North America.
The text of the letter sent to the UN Member States is below.
Dear [Name of UN Ambassador/Foreign Affairs Minister],
As you know, on the morning of Saturday, October 7, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization Hamas began indiscriminately attacking major Israeli population centers along the border with Gaza and firing rockets into other parts of the country.
As of this writing, terrorists in Gaza have fired 5000 rockets at Israel. More than 1,300 Israeli citizens – the number keeps rising – have been murdered, and over 3,000 are injured. There are also terrifying reports and gruesome videos of Israeli civilians being executed and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists, with infiltrators still active in parts of the country.
These horrific events point to a calculated and premeditated attack against innocent civilians. The deliberate murder, abduction, and kidnapping of innocent civilians are deemed war crimes that are absolutely prohibited by international law. We write to urge you to take swift action to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages unharmed.
While Israelis were the clear target of these attacks, they were not their only victims. More than 120 people have been kidnapped and taken into Gaza. We know that the hostages include nationals of at least ten countries in addition to Israel: the U.S., France, Thailand, Germany, Nepal, Canada, Ukraine, Mexico, Brazil, and more. Argentina, Philippines, Austria, Chile, Italy, Paraguay, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Colombia, Panama, and Ireland all have missing nationals. The entire globe is represented among those being held captive. Hamas has threatened to execute them publicly, and the threat must be taken seriously given the brutality of the acts it has already committed, which include the murder of entire families and the killing of as many as 40 babies – some decapitated – in a single location.
On October 7, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack by Hamas in the strongest terms and unequivocally called for the “immediate release of all abducted persons.” Many governments have issued similar condemnations.
We are grateful for the international condemnations of Hamas’s heinous crimes. However, the most urgent challenge is to begin a global campaign to release the hostages held by a terrorist organization. Each nation should echo this message and demand their release. Those leaders and nations that have already done so should redouble their efforts as a matter of urgency. Time is of the essence, and the lives of these hostages hang in the balance. The world’s response to this atrocity will echo in the annals of history.
Thank you for your consideration and action,
[...]
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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