Rabbis Stage Protest, Call For Cease-Fire Inside United Nations

More than 30 rabbis and rabbinical students staged a protest at the United Nations on Tuesday morning, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as Palestinian authorities say the death toll from the U.S.-backed Israeli invasion of the territory approaches 23,000.

The rabbis, who gained access to the building as part of a guided tour, entered the United Nations Security Council Chamber, where they recited prayers and chanted their support for a cease-fire. HuffPost embedded with the group and observed the protest.

Last month, in the same room, the United States vetoed a resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza. Thirteen of 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution; the United Kingdom abstained. Also last month, the United States abstained from a watered-down Security Council resolution aimed at increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Russia abstained from that vote as well, after the United States vetoed a Russian amendment calling for a suspension of hostilities.

“As an Israeli, I’ve gone through cycles of terror and anxiety, frustration, and the most we can do in Israel right now is send goodies to soldiers on the front,” said Jeremy Milgrom, a rabbi from Jerusalem. “I think coming here is going to do more for Israel.”

Pro-cease-fire Jewish groups — including Rabbis for Ceasefire, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow — organized Tuesday’s protest action.

Sophie Ellman-Golan, communications director for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, stressed the protest was not adversarial toward the United Nations, but rather, came in response to the United States’ actions as part of the body.

“Since the Biden administration is consistently, single-handedly blocking the