The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) commends Foreign Secretary David Lammy for his recent visit to Israel during its ongoing war with Hamas and Iranian-backed terror proxies. Lammy’s engagement with Israeli leaders during this critical period underscores the importance of international solidarity with Israel. However, the NJA is deeply disappointed by his remarks demanding a ceasefire, and his conduct during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.
During his visit, Lammy met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a yellow ribbon symbolising solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This gesture was a powerful statement of support for the victims of terrorism. Yet, in a regrettable move, Lammy removed the ribbon during his meeting with Mustafa, sending a mixed message at a time when unequivocal support for Israel is crucial.
Lammy’s call for an immediate ceasefire is particularly concerning. History has shown that ceasefires, under current conditions, merely serve to embolden terrorist organisations like Hamas. Such measures inhibit Israel’s ability to rescue hostages and neutralise Hamas’s capacity to launch further attacks. As seen since the October 7 attacks, a ceasefire without addressing the root causes of the conflict and without ensuring Hamas’s disarmament and dismantlement will lead to more violence and suffering, especially as Hamas uses its own civilian population as human shields and misappropriates civilian infrastructure to conduct terror attacks.
“The calls for a ceasefire are not only tone-deaf but dangerously naive,” said NJA Managing Director Steve Winston. “They fail to recognise that a ceasefire at this juncture will leave Hamas in power, impede Israel’s operations to rescue hostages, and ultimately embolden not just Hamas, but other terrorist groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis. These groups will interpret a ceasefire as a signal that they can carry out horrific attacks with little consequence.”
The NJA emphasises that Israel’s fight against Hamas is a fight for its very survival. The international community must understand that Hamas’s stated goal is the destruction of Israel, and any ceasefire that does not address this existential threat is inherently flawed. The NJA urges global leaders to support Israel’s right to self-defence and to pressure Hamas to release all hostages unconditionally, for Hamas to surrender and disarm, and for the global community to support serious plans for a safe and secure future for Israel and the Palestinians.
The NJA calls on Foreign Secretary Lammy and other international figures to reconsider their stance on demanding a ceasefire in the ongoing war and instead to support measures that will lead to a sustainable peace, which includes the dismantling of Hamas’s terror infrastructure. Only through a clear and unwavering commitment to Israel’s security can we hope to see a lasting resolution to this conflict.
