Our Chair Stacy Schusterman joined a diverse group of global women—including celebrities, politicians and activists—in signing a letter calling on international governments and well-known human rights groups to demand the immediate release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The letter was organized by National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), a grantee in Schusterman's U.S. Jewish Grantmaking portfolio, and is part of NCJW's #VoicesForHostages campaign.

The campaign comes after targeted attacks in Israel carried out by the terrorist organization, Hamas. Since the attacks and ensuing war, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) currently estimates that more than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, approximately 4,400 have been wounded, and more than 200 have been kidnapped from communities in southern Israel and taken to Gaza. Many of these hostages are women and children. 

“We urge all governments, international organizations and civil society groups to condemn these crimes and take action to help secure the release of hostages. We urge the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others, to do everything within their power to get much-needed aid to hostages,” states the letter.

Sheila Katz, CEO of NCJW and an ROI Community member, said, “The terrorist group Hamas deliberately and inexcusably targeted Israeli civilians. And unlike Hamas, we do not celebrate the death of any civilian population. Now, we mourn the tremendous loss of life and pray for the safe recovery of all hostages. The collective trauma of recent events will forever impact Israel and the Jewish people.”

Learn more by reading the press release and take action by signing the letter.