Overview

• The coalition of more than 80 Modern Orthodox rabbis, led by Rabbi Yosef Blau, issued a statement condemning Hamas and urging Israel to prevent mass starvation in Gaza.
• The letter also denounces extremist settler violence in the West Bank and warns against blanket suspicion of Gazan civilians.
• Notable signatories include the head of Yeshivat Maale Gilboa and the chief rabbis of Poland, Denmark and Norway, along with senior rabbis of prominent U.S. congregations.
• Israel National News and other right-leaning commentators criticized the statement as echoing Hamas propaganda, disputing claims of mass starvation and citing a COGAT review alleging inflated hunger-related death counts.
• Signatory Rabbi David Bigman clarified that the statement does not accuse Israel of causing the crisis or call for ending the war, emphasizing a call for responsible humanitarian action.