We, the undersigned, are disappointed with recent statements from the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus that misrepresent Israel’s war against Hamas. We greatly appreciate the outreach and engagement with the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and their ultimate decision to take down their November 9th statement.

We share both groups’ conviction that all peoples deserve safety and dignity, but we question whether calls for an immediate ceasefire provide that for Jews. Hamas officials have stated their intention to repeat the atrocities of October 7 until Israel is annihilated, it continues to hold more than 240 hostages captive, and it is worsening a humanitarian crisis by stealing basic goods from Palestinian civilians. Any immediate pause in fighting would allow Hamas to regroup, rearm, and reattack.

We mourn the thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, and others killed in the wake of Hamas’s attack. Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to be safe. While one can criticize Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza, there is no significant Israeli ideology, movement, policy, or plan to exterminate or expel the Palestinian population from Gaza. To the contrary, Israel has agreed to daily, four-hour humanitarian pauses in the fighting in northern Gaza and has repeatedly warned citizens in advance of responsive actions.

This has been a period of immense grief, where many have lost sight of our shared humanity. We urge lawmakers to not add fuel to the fire by mischaracterizing facts on the ground or repeating false accusations. We are committed to educating lawmakers and all parties about this tragic, nuanced situation. We look forward to continuing to partner with all those committed to advancing justice and understanding here in Colorado.

Signed,

JEWISHcolorado
Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)
Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
Rocky Mountain Rabbis and Cantors (RMRC)