Israel’s flag projected onto Germany’s national parliament in solidarity.
AMEINU:
Ameinu stands in solidarity with the people of Israel following today’s horrific attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas. We grieve the loss of life and the lives that will be forever changed by today’s unprecedented attack. Ameinu prays for the safety of all of those taken hostage by Hamas and calls for their immediate release.
Our hearts are with our friends and family in Israel today and every day.
More from Ameinu (click on embedded links below):
A message from Ameinu’s president Kenneth Bob
AMERICAN FOR PEACE NOW:
Like all of you, I woke up this morning into a nightmare. After a quick glimpse at the headlines from Israel, I called my youngest child, who is there, to make sure that they are safe, spoke to my brother, whose son is currently serving in the IDF, and checked in with my niece who lives in Tel Aviv.
They are all safe. As are family members of other staff who are currently in Israel.
For us, like so many of you, war in Israel is not just international news. It is personal. Yes, I care deeply about the political issues that arise from this. And yes, there will be a time to talk about those. And you know that I will do so. But today, now, I stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in Israel who have lost more of their brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters than on any other single day in Israel’s history.
What is unfolding before us is an Israeli national nightmare.
Not since Israel’s 1948 War of Independence have its enemies held entire Israeli communities at gunpoint. Tragically, Hamas guerillas did that early this morning in seven Israeli southern towns and kibbutzim. They broke the Gaza border wall and fences, stormed into Israel, entered several communities across the border, killed civilians and soldiers, injured others, and captured dozens of civilians, soldiers, and police officers, who are now held hostage in the Gaza Strip.
As I write to you, there still are Hamas terrorists in Israeli southern towns and kibbutzim, exchanging fire with Israeli security forces, and in at least two cases, barricaded in apartments, holding civilian hostages. As I write, firefights are still ongoing in no less than 22 Israeli southern communities. The toll is very high. According to Israeli media reports, more than 150 Israelis have been killed and some 1,100 are injured, many of them badly.
We don’t know how this war – and it is war – will unfold. Israel is already bombing Gaza. There is a serious risk that Hezbollah will join the fighting from Lebanon. There is also a risk of security deterioration in the West Bank.
Earlier today, we issued this statement, and we and our partners at Shalom Achshav will continue to follow the events in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank and will provide you with information and analysis.
Thanks to all of you who have reached out to us today to share your care and concern. We will continue standing in solidarity with the people of Israel and advocating for peace.
In solidarity,
Hadar Susskind
President and CEO, Americans for Peace Now
PARTNERS FOR PROGRESSIVE ISRAEL:
We are in shock and outraged, our hearts are broken, in response to the sudden and ongoing terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against Israel today.
As Israelis and Jews everywhere mark Shabbat and Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret, there can be no “simcha”, no happiness, as we hear of at least 150 Israelis who have tragically lost their lives, with over 1,000 others wounded (at time of this writing) and many more taken hostage or missing.
Partners for Progressive Israel unequivocally stands in solidarity with all people in Israel, we acknowledge the fear, danger, and apprehension they are feeling, and we offer our unwavering support to the Israeli Defense Forces who are tirelessly working to overcome this terrorist onslaught.
We hold in our hearts the victims, the families, and loved ones, and pray for the safety of all of the people of Israel.
We call on the entire global community to unequivocally condemn the heinous actions of Hamas.
In solidarity,
Maytal Kowalski
Incoming Executive Director
Partners for Progressive Israel
ISRAEL POLICY FORUM:
Israel Policy Forum is outraged by the despicable attacks by Hamas terrorists. We stand in firm support of Israel as it defends itself against this terrorist assault and provides security for its citizens, and we call on the international community to do the same.
There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for the horrendous acts of terrorism the world witnessed today. Our thoughts are with the people of Israel at this trying time.
We pray for the recovery of those injured, the return of those taken hostage, and the comfort of the families who have been upended, as we mourn the lives that have been lost.
NEW ISRAEL FUND:
The New Israel Fund is shocked and horrified by this attack on Israel. We stand in support and solidarity with the people of Israel on this dark and difficult day. We pray for all those who have been affected by this terrible attack, and for a swift end to this violence. We and our grantees will continue to work for peace, to calm tensions between Israel’s communities, and to support the most vulnerable people in Israel at this moment of crisis.
NIF is already moving to provide emergency support to grantee organizations and community groups on the frontlines working to help those need at this moment, to reinforce solidarity between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and to counter any kind of extremism, racism, or inter-communal violence. Our Be’er Sheva office in the south of Israel is hard at work, even as the violence continues, to support those civil society organizations shining a light during this dark time.
We at NIF are a global community and we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel.
J STREET:
J Street is shocked, outraged and horrified by the surprise, ongoing terrorist onslaught launched by Hamas against Israel on Shabbat and Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret.
At least 700 Israelis have been reported killed and at least 2,000 wounded in an unprecedented infiltration of dozens of terrorist gunmen into communities near the Gaza border and a barrage of indiscriminate rocket fire against Israeli cities. Terrifyingly, dozens of Israelis have been kidnapped and taken hostage. Many have been trapped in their homes waiting desperately to be saved, as live combat in border communities is ongoing. This is a time of profound anguish and horror. Israel is in a state of war and national emergency.
J Street stands in solidarity with the Israeli people in this hour of terrible danger, fear and worry. We stand with the Israeli armed forces working furiously to repel this assault, protect Israelis and defeat the terrorist onslaught. Our thoughts and our hearts are with all of the victims and their loved ones, and in particular with the many communities facing bombardments of rocket fire, infiltrator attacks and the kidnapping of family members.
Hamas’ murderous actions must be met with unequivocal condemnation from the entire international community. We hope for their swift and decisive defeat, and urge the US government to do everything possible to assist the State of Israel in confronting this threat, defending its citizens, and preventing a slide into even further conflagration and suffering for Israelis and Palestinians.
JEWISH LABOR COMMITTEE:
The President of the Jewish Labor Committee, Stuart Appelbaum, made the following statement about the horrific attack against Israel earlier today:
“The Jewish Labor Committee unequivocally condemns Hamas’s terrorist attack from Gaza against the State of Israel. We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel in these dark hours, and grieve over the loss of life, and the many injuries, and send our sympathies to the many families who are now suffering as a result of this heinous action.
“We recognize the State of Israel’s unequivocal right to defend itself and those who live within its borders, and extend our support for that country’s defense forces.
“We call for the immediate safe return of the hostages held by Hamas.
“Hamas’s violent hatred of Israel and refusal to live in peace will only lead to more tragedy for both those living in Israel and Gaza.
“We reach out to the international community, including our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, and call on them to join us in condemning this act of terrorism and in support of Israel.”
T’RUAH:
In a statement, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, said:
“Our hearts are broken for those killed, and for those who lost family, friends, and neighbors in Hamas’ horrific and indefensible terror attacks in Southern Israel this Saturday. There is no possible justification for cruelly and indiscriminately murdering civilians and taking innocent people as hostages, both of which are war crimes.
“As these attacks happened, many of us were celebrating the twin holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Zman simchateinu (literally, “the season of our rejoicing”) became a time of horror, of mourning, and of pain.
“We pray for the safety of our families, friends, rabbinic and other colleagues, T’ruah staff members, and everyone in our broader community in Israel. We know that the shock and pain will not pass quickly; we feel the reverberations of this massacre throughout the Jewish diaspora.
“As in other times of intense grief and fear, we turn to the wisdom of Jewish tradition — a tradition born of centuries of dispossession and communal grief. This wisdom reminds us that mourning cannot be rushed or denied. We cry out in the words of the Psalms: ‘Out of the depths I call you, oh Lord. Oh Lord, listen to my cry; let your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy’ (Psalm 130). We pray for the swift return of those held captive : ‘May the Holy Blessed One have compassion on them and bring them out from darkness and the shadow of death, may God break their bonds, deliver them from their distress, and bring them swiftly back to their families’ embrace’ (excerpted from The Koren Siddur).
“We know that more terrifying times lay ahead. We mourn and we pray for the safety of everyone in harm’s way, as the violence threatens to claim the lives of even more Israelis, as well as Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Most Israelis and Palestinians want to live in peace, security, and dignity. The road may be long, but we will not allow the enemies of peace to hijack our dreams of a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. We know that a true and lasting peace will not be achieved until there is a just, negotiated political solution that protects the human rights of everyone.”