The Truman Center unequivocally condemns Hamas’ acts of terror against Israel. The brutality and magnitude of these attacks are the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust. There is no justification.  Families were massacred, music festival fans were gunned down, and elderly women, children, and entire families were taken hostage.

The lives lost, injuries inflicted, and families torn apart in recent days are heart-wrenching tragedies. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected.

Israel has a right to peaceful existence, to defend itself when attacked, and to take action to prevent future attacks.  Inseparable from those rights, Israel has the obligation to protect civilians. The deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians and the siege of 2 million Palestinians, denying them food, water, and electricity has no justification. The murder of innocent civilians should not be answered with the unrestrained and collective punishment of all Palestinian civilians.

We encourage the governments of the United States, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian factions engaged in fighting to agree to a safe corridor for Palestinian civilians to find shelter outside of Gaza.  

These attacks and the ongoing conflict must not be exploited as a justification for bigotry.  We must remain vigilant against hatred and attacks against Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities. Anti-semitism, Islamophobia and bigotry are threats to our national security and cannot be tolerated.  

Seizing hostages for political leverage is unconscionable. Truman calls for all hostages to be immediately released. We call on the United States government to work with the Israeli government to prioritize the release of hostages in their ongoing operations.

Thousands of innocent lives have been lost, and many more Israelis and Palestinians will likely die in the days to come. Military action alone will not end this long-standing conflict. The United States should demonstrate its leadership by restarting a constructive diplomatic process involving all parties.