AJP Statement Condemning Hamas Attacks

October 11, 2023

The Association of Jewish Psychologists (AJP) strongly condemns the brutal and vicious Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.  These barbaric attacks have included the torture, killing and kidnapping of innocent babies, children, women, and men, the elderly, disabled, as well as soldiers.  Since its inception, the stated intent of the terrorist organization, Hamas, has been to destroy Israel and kill its citizens of all ages, without discrimination.  This most recent series of terrorist attacks, that followed earlier ones, are all too reminiscent of the long history of genocide of the Jewish people, including pogroms and the Holocaust, with young children and babies’ being ripped from their parents’ arms and murdered.  

While our hearts cry out for the Gazans, who have and will continue to suffer from this unspeakable war, Israel must defend itself against annihilation.  Hamas has refused to accept any negotiated settlement to bring peace to this region and has insisted on a “river to the sea” policy of destroying Israel.  The re-traumatization inflicted on both Israelis and Gazans is horrific and harrowing.  There are many who will never fully recover.

We wholeheartedly support the people of Israel and the people of Gaza.  We support the existence of an Israeli State as a Jewish homeland. Heartbroken, we grieve and pray for the innocent victims in Israel and Gaza and we pray for the restoration of human dignity and peace for all of our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers in this war torn region.