United for Peace: Prominent Jewish Activists Rally for Ceasefire and Justice in Palestine

As Rabbi Alissa Wise peruses social media, her feed is filled with videos depicting deceased Palestinian children. These heart-wrenching clips capture parents clutching their lifeless bodies, their anguished screams trapped in their throats, and their eyes hollowed with sorrow.

Similar to countless individuals worldwide, she cannot escape the haunting images emerging from Gaza. This besieged region has endured over two weeks of relentless Israeli attacks, resulting in demolished homes, decimated essential infrastructure, and the onset of a dire humanitarian crisis.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, the airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of over 4,600 Palestinians, including approximately 1,900 children, and have injured at least 14,000 others. Additionally, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that around 1.4 million individuals have been internally displaced.

Expressing her emotions about the situation, Wise, a member of the rabbinical council for Jewish Voice for Peace, shared her daily struggle of waking up with tears in her eyes and anger in her heart. She channels these feelings into taking action by raising her voice both metaphorically, "yelling into the void," and literally, "yelling into the halls of Congress."

Aftermath of Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.

Ibrahim Dahman/CNN

'Nowhere to go': Ordinary Palestinians live in fear as Israel retaliates against Hamas

Without explanation or notes:

She shares the grief and horror over the surprise attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, where the militant group ruthlessly murdered over 1,400 individuals, including civilians and military personnel, and took over 200 others captive, as reported by the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel claims that its objective in Gaza is to eradicate and dismantle Hamas, the governing body in the region. However, it is the 2.2 million Palestinians residing there, who are trapped with no means of escape, that are enduring the majority of the assaults.

Wise and other Jewish American peace activists are rallying to save these lives by calling for an immediate ceasefire. On Wednesday, a large group of Jews and their allies gathered at Capitol Hill, proudly waving Palestinian flags and voicing their support for Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, Wise, along with hundreds of activists, led a sit-in inside one of the Capitol buildings. This powerful demonstration was coordinated by Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, two prominent Jewish organizations in the United States advocating for a fair and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow organized a rally on Capitol Hill calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Led by a group of two dozen rabbis, Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/AP captures the scene at the sit-in where shofars, traditional rams horn used in Jewish rituals, were blown, and testimonials from suffering Palestinians in Gaza were shared. Donning "Not in our name" shirts, they boldly displayed banners demanding an immediate "ceasefire."

The activists urged the US government to cease assisting Israel, as Wise alleges that such aid supports the brutal killings of Palestinians.

During the event, over 355 activists, primarily of Jewish descent, including Wise, were apprehended, as stated by Jewish Voice for Peace representative Sonya Meyerson-Knox.

Numerous Jewish Americans are joining together in demonstrations throughout the United States, urging President Joe Biden and other elected representatives to assert control over Israel. They argue that increasing civilian casualties is not the solution to Hamas' deadly attack.

"IfNotNow political director Eva Borgwardt expressed, 'As Jewish individuals with ancestors who endured the Holocaust, when we hear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant using phrases like 'children of darkness' and 'human animals' to describe Palestinians, we feel the echoes of that deep within us,' referring to the Israeli officials' recent remarks."

Never again for anyone

Immediately upon being released by authorities, Rabbi Wise received the heartbreaking news that one of her dearest Palestinian acquaintances had tragically lost their entire family in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

"I collapsed onto the floor, overcome by grief. It served as a powerful and somber reminder of the very cause we strive to prevent," expressed Wise. "It is absolutely imperative for American Jews to boldly declare that 'never again' applies to everyone, regardless of their background." This slogan has long served as a unifying force for the Jewish community ever since the conclusion of World War II.

"We must learn from history that our principles apply to everyone, without exception, including the Palestinians," she affirmed. "We are stepping away from organizations that promote the idea that Jewish security should come at the expense of Palestinian lives. We believe that it is not a matter of choosing one or the other, but rather demanding justice for all."

In addition to mobilizing nonviolent actions, Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow are also utilizing digital media to educate communities, actively engaging with journalists, organizing petition campaigns, and coordinating telephone and email initiatives targeting elected officials and news organizations. Much of their collaborative efforts are in partnership with smaller Jewish organizations, as well as Arab, Muslim, and Palestine solidarity activists.

Jewish peace activists carried the Palestinian flag and wore keffiyehs as they marched on Capitol Hill.

Jewish Voice for Peace, established in 1996, identifies as the world's largest organization advocating for Palestinian causes within the Jewish community. With a strong presence in 30 states and a support base of over 440,000 members and allies, it commands significant influence. Similarly, IfNotNow, a prominent Jewish group with tens of thousands of members, has actively demonstrated against the Israeli occupation since 2014.

Borgwardt said that the work of our movements in the past nine years, along with the efforts of our predecessors over the decades, has prepared us all to face this horrific and genocidal moment. Stopping this war now feels like the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. We fully comprehend the circumstances that led us here and recognize that in order to bring an end to this nightmare and ensure the genuine safety of Palestinians, Israelis, and Jews, we must put an end to decades of occupation and apartheid. We must strive for equality, justice, and a prosperous future for all. However, Jewish groups advocating for Palestinian rights are often subjected to severe criticism, particularly from pro-Israel groups who accuse them of being naive, misinformed, or even antisemitic.

Charlotte Hauptman, 84, was in Israel when the country's war with Hamas broke out. She is now safely back home in Southern California.

Elizabeth Weinberg for CNN

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Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, acknowledged the protesters' right to free speech but expressed disappointment in their "complete lack of moral clarity." He emphasized that the responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza lies with Hamas, not Israel. Meredith Weisel, the ADL's DC regional director, characterized the protesters on Capitol Hill as a small faction with limited influence.

Weisel made a statement on X, stating that these far-left radical organizations falsely claim to represent the majority of the Jewish community. Furthermore, he points out that these groups are anti-Zionist, questioning the legitimacy of Israel's existence. Weisel firmly asserts that anti-Zionism is equivalent to antisemitism. However, Wise strongly disagrees, emphasizing that Zionism is a distinct nationalist movement that arose in the 19th century, aiming to establish a Jewish homeland in British-administered Palestine. She emphasizes that Zionism should not be equated with Judaism.

"I identify as Jewish, but I am not a Zionist. I firmly believe that it is not anti-Semitic to criticize the political actions of any government, including Israel. It is important to understand that Israel is not synonymous with the Jewish people; it is a nation-state. The accusation of anti-Semitism is often weaponized to suppress voices, and it is alarming how they exploit the pain of Jewish history."

Wise has faced criticism and opposition for her advocacy for Palestine, even from members of her own community and her own family.

"The upcoming family gathering fills me with a sense of avoidance and apprehension. However, I firmly believe that it is crucial for us to strive for the future we desire. The emotional pain caused by the physical distance from my own family can be eased by fostering a sense of belonging within another community that we actively organize and engage with."

Jewish peace activists carried placards and handed out fliers denouncing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Borgwardt, a member of IfNotNow, clarifies that their group opposes the occupation rather than being anti-Zionist. She emphasizes her dedication to organizing for a ceasefire, stating that she is not concerned with what critics have to say.

"As Jewish Americans, we have come here in our time of grief to urge Biden and Congress to understand that our sorrow should not be used as a weapon, nor should our pain be used as an excuse to support a government with clear genocidal intentions. It is imperative that they call for an immediate ceasefire," Borgwardt expressed.

"We are here to scream louder than we ever have: Not in our name."

Suffering for 75 years and counting

During the Wednesday sit-in, the halls of Congress resounded with the united voices of hundreds of Jewish Americans demanding an end to violence and its financial support!

The protesters and their supporters flooded the rotunda, wearing black shirts and keffiyehs, the symbolic black and white scarf representing the Palestinian people. Amidst their calls for fairness, tears flowed, and they embraced each other tightly, sharing silent solace.

Borgwardt expressed the immense power and importance of being amidst a multitude of mourning Jews who passionately urged our leaders to gather the strength needed to halt this ongoing violence. After decades of neglect, they insisted on addressing the core issue: the fallacy that Jewish and Israeli security necessitates the suffering of Palestinians.

Jewish peace activists embrace during a rally on Capitol Hill for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Meyerson-Knox, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, expressed her deep sorrow for the lives lost on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, she emphasizes that this war did not suddenly emerge without any context.

"The events on October 7 were not the beginning," she explained. "The reprehensible actions taken by Hamas cannot be separated from the ongoing atrocities of Israel's oppressive military occupation and its discriminatory apartheid system enforced against Palestinians for the past 75 years."

Meyerson-Knox asserts that this is not an excuse or a rationalization; it is simply the truth.

A significant portion of Gaza's population comprises refugees whose predecessors escaped or were forcibly removed from their dwellings in what is now known as Israel, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, referred to by Palestinians as al-Nakba or "the catastrophe." Since then, Israel has never permitted their repatriation, resulting in many enduring a life of destitution.

This aerial photograph captures the extensive damage inflicted on buildings in Gaza City as a result of Israeli airstrikes on October 10, 2023. The Israeli military targeted Hamas locations in Gaza, and it was reported that the army discovered the bodies of 1,500 militants in southern towns that had been retaken after intense battles near the Palestinian enclave. The photograph was taken by BELAL AL SABBAGH and is available via AFP/Getty Images.

Belal Al Sabbagh/AFP via Getty Images

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Israel gained control of Gaza in 1967 during the Six-Day War against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. After almost four decades, Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005. Following the withdrawal, Israel, in cooperation with Egypt, established a blockade that critics argue has turned Gaza into the "world's biggest open-air prison."

Tensions often arise between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, such as Hamas. Hamas was elected into power in 2006 and removed its opposition in 2007.

The situation faced by Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and refugee camps in neighboring countries is equally dire. Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow believe that addressing these challenges is crucial for the achievement of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

According to Wise, it is challenging to anticipate what will happen next in this ongoing war, except for an increase in anger, pain, and sorrow.

The World Health Organization cautions that conditions are becoming increasingly dire, with hospitals on the brink of collapse. Palestinians in Gaza are rapidly depleting their supplies of food, water, and other essential resources due to incessant bombardment by Israel.

Meanwhile, activists are raising concerns about the increasingly distressing videos originating from the region. One recent video captures the disturbing act of Palestinian parents tattooing their children's names on their limbs, enabling identification in case of their tragic demise.

"To sustain hope and envision a future where Palestine is truly free, where safety and freedom encompass all, I am compelled to take action even amid the depths of despair," expressed Wise.