The News in Israel Is Terrible. HIAS Is Here To Help
By Mark Hetfield
President and CEO, HIAS
Oct 11, 2023
Residents inspect the damage to their building in the southern city of Ashkelon on October 9, 2023, after it was hit during the night by a rocket from the Gaza Strip. (Menahem KAHANA /AFP via Getty Images)
*The following is adapted from an email that HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield sent to supporters on October 10.
It’s difficult to express the anguish I’m feeling at this moment — and I imagine many of you can relate. All of us at HIAS are feeling it, along with a host of other emotions.
Horror at the brutal mass murder of civilians in Israel. Dismay at the civilian death toll of Palestinians in the densely populated Gaza Strip. Distraught over the fate of Israeli men, women, and children forcibly taken hostage. Concern for the well-being of our colleagues at HIAS Israel and their clients, who came to Israel seeking refuge from persecution. Anxiety at what the coming weeks will bring. Anger at the continuing cycle of violence. And a deep sadness at the prospect of peace in the region slipping further away.
As of today, more than a thousand people have been killed, thousands more wounded, and an estimated 150 Israelis are being held hostage. Israeli and Palestinian civilians are both facing the terrifying prospect of even more violence, more suffering, and more loss.
We have all condemned the mass terror attack of October 7, resulting in unspeakable human loss. Now we must remind ourselves of what we stand for. We must act.
The Torah tells us that each human life is sacred and that every human being is entitled to dignity. We at HIAS take that very seriously, and it’s the foundation of who we are as an organization. It is precisely at crisis moments like this — when we may struggle with sadness, desperation, and anger — that our commitment to these principles matters most of all.
Even as we grieve, HIAS will continue to live our values, including our commitment to the belief that all people have the right to live in safety, dignity, and peace — both within Israel’s internationally recognized borders, as well as the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
As a Jewish humanitarian organization, we stand ready to continue our work serving the needs of the most vulnerable and provide assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
As a Jewish humanitarian organization, we stand ready to continue our work serving the needs of the most vulnerable and provide assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
We stand with people of faith around the world in praying for those who have lost loved ones, urging a swift de-escalation of this conflict, and joining other humanitarians calling for the protection of all civilian lives.
As the news continues to develop, I have found some comfort and pride in the words of Sivan Carmel, our country director in Israel — “We are ready to do what we always do.” I hope that you are able to care for yourself, and that you are able to hold your loved ones a little closer this week.
Thank you for unwavering commitment to refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people around the world.
