The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has resulted in a staggering disparity in casualties. As of March 2025, estimates suggest that between 46,600 and 62,000 Palestinians have been killed, while the total number of Israeli fatalities, including both civilians and military personnel, stands at around 1,700. The scale of destruction in Gaza, particularly among civilians—women, children, and the elderly—raises profound moral and ethical concerns.
This level of destruction bears a striking resemblance to some of the darkest chapters in human history. When entire populations are displaced, civilian infrastructure is destroyed, and thousands of innocents are killed, the term genocide inevitably arises. While Israel and its supporters argue that the military actions are necessary for self-defence, the disproportionate loss of Palestinian lives suggests something far more systemic: the systematic destruction of a people. Ironically, this mirrors aspects of the Holocaust—a term historically associated with the mass persecution of Jews but which, by definition, applies to any deliberate attempt to annihilate a group.
What makes this situation particularly paradoxical is that those carrying out these acts—Zionists—are themselves Semitic, as are the Palestinians they are killing. This alone highlights the absurdity of how the term antisemitism has been politically weaponized. While any criticism of Israeli state policy is often labelled antisemitic, the ongoing massacre of Palestinians—who are also Semitic—remains largely unchallenged by the same institutions that claim to fight discrimination. This selective outrage exposes how language can be manipulated to serve political and ideological ends.
From a religious perspective, the actions of the Israeli government and military are fundamentally at odds with Jewish law and ethical teachings. Judaism places a high value on justice, the sanctity of life, and the principle that all human beings are created in the image of God. The Torah, the Talmud, and countless rabbinical interpretations emphasize the obligation to protect the innocent and to seek peace over war. In Leviticus 19:16, it is written: “Do not stand idly by while your neighbour’s blood is shed.” Yet, what we see today is not merely idleness but active participation in large-scale destruction.
The concept of pikuach nefesh, which prioritizes the preservation of human life above nearly all other commandments, is another core tenet of Jewish law that appears to be ignored in this conflict. If Judaism truly upholds the principle that saving one life is akin to saving the entire world, then what does the killing of tens of thousands mean? The religious justifications often given for Zionism—especially those rooted in biblical claims to land—fail to account for the profound moral and ethical contradictions presented by the actual consequences of Israeli military policies.
Despite these contradictions, there has been little outcry from major Jewish religious or cultural institutions worldwide. While some Jewish voices—such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Neturei Karta—have condemned the Israeli government’s actions, mainstream Jewish organizations have either remained silent or actively supported Israel’s military actions. This silence raises troubling questions: Does adherence to Zionism now override adherence to Jewish law? Have political and nationalistic loyalties replaced religious and ethical ones?
It is difficult to reconcile the moral foundations of Judaism with the current reality in Gaza. A people who have suffered immense persecution throughout history—most notably in the Holocaust—are now perpetuating violence against another vulnerable group. The lessons of history should have instilled a deeper sense of empathy and a commitment to justice, rather than a replication of past atrocities under a different banner.
The conflict is not merely a military confrontation; it is a test of moral integrity. If Judaism is to remain true to its ethical foundations, then Jewish voices worldwide must rise in opposition to the ongoing slaughter of Palestinians. To do otherwise is to betray the very teachings that have defined Jewish identity for millennia. A just and peaceful future requires a fundamental reassessment of not only political policies but also the moral responsibilities that come with faith, history, and humanity. Not acting now will condemn all Jews for the future.
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