American Jewish Organizations Call for Humanitarian Access to Gaza

Last week, a UN-backed agency warned of a “worst-case famine scenario” unfolding in Gaza. Local authorities have reported dozens of starvation-related deaths.

On August 3, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), one of the leading lobbying organizations, reaffirmed its support for Israel, calling its actions a “just war,” but simultaneously urged the government to ease the suffering of civilians.

“We mourn the loss of Palestinian civilian lives and are deeply concerned about the food crisis,” the statement read. AJC called on Israel, GHF, the UN, and others to step up coordination to ensure aid reaches those in need.

GHF, supported by both Israel and the U.S., came under heavy criticism after hundreds of civilians were killed during a food distribution operation that involved Israeli forces and contractors.

AJC’s statement marked a cautious pushback against the aid blockade—a stance now echoed by other organizations that had previously offered Israel unqualified support. All, however, continue to emphasize Hamas’s responsibility for holding hostages.

The Reform movement—the largest branch of Judaism in the U.S.—declared: “Neither escalating military pressure nor limiting humanitarian aid has brought Israel closer to freeing the hostages or ending the war.” The statement stressed that Israel must not compromise its moral authority: “Starving civilians cannot be justified by Jewish values or humanitarian law.”

The Rabbinical Assembly—an association of New York-based Conservative rabbis—also called for “urgent action” to deliver aid. “Hamas can end the suffering by releasing the hostages,” the statement read, “but Israel, too, has a duty to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches those in need. Jewish tradition demands it.”

The left wing of the Jewish community has been actively protesting since the start of the conflict. On Tuesday, 27 rabbis and clergy members from the group Jews for Food Aid for People in Gaza were detained at the Washington office of Senator John Thune.

But discontent is spreading beyond progressive circles. On Monday, eight rabbis were arrested outside the Israeli consulate in New York—including some who had previously avoided public activism.

“Protests outside the consulate used to come from the far left,” Faylisa Wisdom of New York Jewish Agenda told Gothamist. “But now we’re seeing rabbis from far more moderate circles getting involved.”

More than 1,200 rabbis have signed an open letter demanding aid access: “The Jewish people are facing a moral crisis that threatens the very core of Judaism. We cannot remain silent.”

These developments reflect a broader shift in U.S. public opinion—especially among American Jews. As the war drags on, support for Israel continues to decline.

According to Gallup, only 32% of American adults support Israel’s actions—the lowest level since November 2023. Among younger people, including young Jews, support is even lower.

“Jewish family group chats are tense right now,” writes The New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. “The consensus that united American Jews for generations is unraveling.”

The younger the respondent, the more critical the view of Israeli policy. This is reflected in the support for Zohran Mamdani—a proponent of Palestinian rights who has faced accusations of antisemitism. Despite the controversy, Mamdani is backed by 67% of Jewish voters in New York under the age of 44. Among older voters, that number drops to just 25%.

“Mamdani’s primary win was a wake-up moment for many Jews,” Klein notes.

Organizers of Monday’s protest in New York hope to bring new groups into the streets. The slogan: “Jews Say: Enough!”

“Our tradition teaches that if we don’t speak out against the actions of our own people, we become complicit,” Moriel Rothman-Zecher of IfNotNow told The Guardian. “As Jews and as Americans—whose government is funding this catastrophe—we must decide whether we’re ready to take responsibility for a policy of mass starvation.”

The shift is also being felt within Jewish organizations. More than 200 alumni of the Young Judaea movement have signed a letter calling on the group to abandon its traditional stance, condemn the starvation in Gaza, and support a permanent ceasefire.

“Our families, colleagues, and institutions—in Israel and beyond—have already joined the protest,” the letter states. “If Young Judaea remains silent, it forfeits its moral foundation.”