Ambassador Leiter Rebukes US Rabbis Over Gaza Statements, Calls for Apology

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, delivered a sharp response to a public letter signed by 80 American Orthodox rabbis accusing Israel of contributing to hunger in Gaza. Leiter, whose son Maj. Moshe Leiter fell in battle against Hamas, said the rabbis’ claims were not only false but dangerously aligned with anti-Israel propaganda.

“Your statement not only reflects a severe unfamiliarity with the facts,” Leiter wrote, “but also relies on the lies of our worst enemies.”

Leiter pointed to both Israeli intelligence and UN monitoring reports that show Hamas systematically seizes up to 90% of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. According to his letter, the terror group controls smuggling operations, imposes taxes and fees, and even infiltrates aid organizations leaving civilians deprived while Hamas profits.

“Israel is the one feeding those who are firing on our children,” he stressed, noting that Israel continues to facilitate aid deliveries despite ongoing rocket fire and cross-border attacks.

The rabbis’ letter, organized by Rabbi Yosef Blau, also mentioned settler violence in the West Bank. Leiter rejected the comparison as misleading and politically motivated. He noted that according to the Shin Bet, fewer than 100 individuals are involved in violent incidents, while in 2023 alone Palestinians carried out more than 11,000 terror attacks in Judea and Samaria.

On the issue of Gaza, Leiter highlighted new mechanisms Israel is working to establish for aid delivery that bypass UN channels, which he said too often serve Hamas interests. He cited the Gaza Humanitarian Fund as one such initiative ensuring assistance reaches civilians without strengthening terrorist control.

He also urged critics to examine the research published under the title Debunking the Genocide Claims: A Re-examination of the Israel-Hamas War, which dismantles allegations of famine in Gaza and exposes them as built on faulty data and circular sources.

“What is required is moral backbone and a deep belief in the justice of our cause,” Leiter wrote. “Sadly, your statement undermined that.”

In closing, the ambassador delivered a direct rebuke: “As Israel fights for survival on seven fronts, faces international pressure, and leads historic changes in the Middle East for security and stability, this is the time to support Israel’s elected government and the people of Israel, not to conduct political criticism rooted in blatant ignorance of the facts. You should apologize.”

At a time when Israel faces military and diplomatic challenges, Leiter’s words reflect a broader call for unity and truth. Israel continues to fight not only on the battlefield, but also in the arena of public opinion, where misinformation threatens to erode support for the Jewish state. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stand with Israel.