"Global Jewish leaders urge UN, world to impose sanctions on Israel"

Prominent Jewish individuals globally are urging the United Nations and international leaders to enforce sanctions against Israel, citing actions they deem "unconscionable" and tantamount to genocide in Gaza.

A letter signed by 460 individuals—including former Israeli officials, Oscar winners, authors, and intellectuals—demands accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The appeal coincides with a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, where reports suggest proposals for sanctions related to human rights violations may be postponed.

"We remember that many of the laws and conventions designed to protect human life were established in response to the Holocaust," the signatories state. "These protections have been persistently violated by Israel."

Notable signatories include former Israeli Knesset speaker Avraham Burg, ex-peace negotiator Daniel Levy, British author Michael Rosen, Canadian writer Naomi Klein, Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Glazer, U.S. actor Wallace Shawn, Emmy winners Ilana Glazer and Hannah Einbinder, and Pulitzer Prize recipient Benjamin Moser.

The letter calls on world leaders to respect rulings by international courts, prevent involvement in violations of international law by stopping arms transfers and enforcing targeted sanctions, ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, and dismiss false accusations of antisemitism against those advocating for justice.

"With profound grief, we observe the mounting evidence that Israel’s actions meet the legal definition of genocide," the letter states.

This demand follows shifting perspectives among U.S. Jewish communities and the wider public in recent years. A Washington Post poll revealed that 61% of U.S. Jews believe Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, while 39% view its actions as genocide. Among the broader U.S. population, 45% told the Brookings Institution they consider Israel’s actions genocidal, and a Quinnipiac survey in August found half of voters share this view, including 77% of Democrats.

Additional signatories include Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov, playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler), American comedian Eric André, South African novelist Damon Galgut, Oscar-winning journalist Yuval Abraham, Tony Award winner Toby Marlow, and Israeli philosopher Omri Boehm.

"Our support for Palestinians does not oppose Jewish values but upholds them," the signatories write. "When our teachings declare that to destroy one life is to destroy an entire world, they made no exceptions for Palestinians. We will persist until this ceasefire leads to an end of occupation and apartheid."

Since October 7, 2023, Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 65,000 Palestinians killed and over 167,000 injured. The UN estimates approximately 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced.