Since October 7, 2023, Palestinian authorities estimate that over 50,000 people have been killed by Israel’s ground and air assault on Gaza. Nearly 1/3 of those who were killed were under 18 years old, and studies have suggested that the actual number of deceased people may be 41% higher than official estimates.
“As a queer Jew who’s personal connection to Judaism is cultural, emotional, and interpersonal and is not defined for me by the state of Israel, I have felt long alienated from this conversation and from a lot of people in my earliest community who feel differently, sometimes to a dogmatic extent,” Ben wrote.
Ben also shared Hacks star Hannah Einbinder’s recent Human Rights Campaign speech in support of Palestine, which you can watch in full here.
“My queerness is a tradition of social justice, as is my Judaism,” Hannah said at one point in her speech. “To me, these are traditions of humanity, of care for human life. All human life, equally. As a queer person, as a Jewish person, and as an American I am horrified by the Israeli government’s massacre of well over 65,000 Palestinians.”
“I just wanted to thank Hannah for speaking directly and with heart in a way that made me feel seen and hopeful,” Ben wrote after sharing her speech.
Head here to find out how you can support Palestinians in Gaza.