The Jewish Caucus of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin called for the release of the hostages, a mutually agreed upon ceasefire, and an increase of aid into Gaza, according to a statement issued by the organization.
In an Aug. 4 vote, 8-3, the Caucus decided to issue the statement making several points related to “the Growing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza.” The group asked that “every effort be made to immediately increase food, water, medical supplies, and other vital aid traveling into Gaza for distribution to its civilian population.”
The statement reads: “Israel has facilitated more aid into Gaza than any other nation at war in history for a civilian population. However, recent decisions of the Netanyahu Government and failures of distribution have created a humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored, nor allowed to continue.”
Since Oct. 7, pain and suffering have been brought to both Palestinians and Israelis, according to the statement. The Caucus noted that “Hamas and the Netanyahu Government have failed to work collaboratively to agree to a lasting ceasefire, causing further division for Palestinians, Israelis, and, ultimately, the world.”
“The horrific acts of Oct. 7, 2023, claimed the lives of nearly 1,200 Israelis with another 251 hostages taken by militants beyond the border walls of Gaza,” reads the statement. “Recent videos released by Hamas show the torture being inflicted on those hostages who remain alive in tunnels.”
The Caucus collected the following statements from Jewish organizations to share with the community:
National Council of Jewish Women
“All Israeli and Palestinian civilians deserve to live in peace with what they need to flourish. No person should be held captive. No child should be hungry. No person should die from hunger. The measure of our humanity is how we treat those in greatest need.”
Union for Reform Judaism
“Blocking food, water, medicine, and power—especially for children—is indefensible. Let us not allow our grief to harden into indifference, nor our love for Israel to blind us to the cries of the vulnerable. Let us rise to the moral challenge of this moment.”
The Rabbinical Assembly
“Even as we believe Hamas could end this suffering immediately through the release of the hostages and care for its civilian population, the Israeli government must do everything in its power to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need. The Jewish tradition calls upon us to ensure the provision of food, water, and medical supplies as a top priority. Aid agencies, the United Nations, and the Israeli government must act swiftly to distribute supplies currently stalled at the border so they reach the civilians who so desperately need them. We are heartened by today’s news of planned air drops of food, and encourage other creative solutions to address this crisis.”
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
“We urge Israel, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the UN, and all responsible parties involved in aid distribution to increase cooperation and coordination in order to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”
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