J Street strongly condemns the barrage of hundreds of rockets that have been launched from Gaza at Israel over the past 48 hours by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We are deeply concerned by this intensive escalation in violence, in which three Israelis and several Palestinian civilians — including an infant and a pregnant woman — have been killed so far, with many more wounded.
We stand with the communities of the Israeli south and with those throughout the country who are now living under the threat of indiscriminate terror. Our thoughts are also with the civilian population of Gaza, who once again are faced with a potentially devastating new round of conflict that will only further exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis.
We support Israel’s right to defend itself and its people against rocket attacks and terror. At the same time, it remains clear after more than a decade of repeated escalations and suffering that there is no military solution to this conflict. Repeated rounds of violence have brought us no closer to an improved situation for either Israelis or Palestinians. Only diplomatic action with the active participation and encouragement of the international community can ultimately bring security and relief to the people of Gaza and to the Israeli south.
We urge the US and the international community to do all that it can to help reduce tensions and bring about a ceasefire before this new round of conflict escalates further and more lives are lost.