Israel is home to 7M Jews, 50% of all Jews. The celebration of 10/7 as “resistance,” the false claim Jews aren’t indigenous to Israel & the targeting of Israel for elimination are received by many Jews as an example of the violent expulsions defining millennia of Jewish history.

The war triggered by the 10/7 attack has been devastating, with horrifying levels of civilian death in Gaza & risk of wide-scale starvation. Much of Gaza is in ruins. The internal displacement in Gaza is both extreme & unacceptable.

Israel has not done enough to protect civilians in Gaza & ensure delivery of aid. The recent WCK bombing is just one example of this.

Israel has every right to defend itself & oust Hamas. This war, however, has gone beyond those goals, resulting in massive death & displacement.

The war’s continuing impacts on Israel are massive. Much of northern & southern Israel are evacuated, with hundreds of thousands of Israelis unable to live in their communities. Israel continues to experience rocket fire from Hezbollah & risks on its southern border.

The 10/7 attack & resulting war have had deep impacts among Bay Area Jewish & Palestinian communities.

Many Palestinian Americans here have lost a huge number of family members.

Many Jews here had family or friends killed or taken hostage & have displaced family members.

The 10/7 attack & war have also led to significant hate here at home. Antisemitism — already on the rise — is exploding. We’re seeing it online, in city council chambers, on college campuses & in K-12 schools.

We’ve also seen terrible attacks on our Muslim & Arab communities.

Everyone is losing this war & the war needs to end. The hostages must be returned home — every single one of them, including the bodies of those raped & killed by Hamas while held hostage. Hamas must be removed from power. Hamas must not be allowed to govern Gaza.

The world must also commit to rebuild Gaza for Gazans. And we must move toward an independent Palestine, living side by side in peace with Israel. Some have given up hope for a two-state solution. Yet as hard as it is, it’s the only solution.

We also need an Israeli government deeply committed to peace. The current government does not meet that standard. And it’s not just Netanyahu. Others in his coalition are toxic, both in their dehumanization of Palestinians & their attacks on pluralistic democracy in Israel.

Israel needs to exit this war w/ a governing coalition committed to peace & pluralistic democracy. Right wing religious extremists must not be allowed to dictate policy & Israel must be a home for all kinds of Jews, for millions of Arab Israelis & for Israelis of all backgrounds.

As we mourn those murdered, raped & kidnapped on October 7 & as we mourn the Gazans killed, displaced & driven into horrifying living conditions, let’s recommit to peace in Israel & Palestine. The alternative is long-term war & we must not allow that to happen.