Verbatim: Text of the October Declaration published by leading British citizens

The full text of the October Declaration published by leading British citizens and signed by 76,055 others to date.

The full text of the October Declaration published by leading British citizens and signed by 76,055 others to date.

We are a group of concerned British citizens and residents from a wide range of backgrounds and professions who stand in solidarity with British Jews and condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, whether in Britain or elsewhere.

We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism against civilians in Israel, especially the massacre on Oct. 7, 2023. 

On Oct. 7, 2023 the State of Israel and her citizens, both Jews and non-Jews, were subjected to a brutal terrorist attack, which resulted in the murder, torture, rape and kidnapping of over 1,500 people.

More Jews were killed on that day than on any other day since the Holocaust.

We are aware that Jews are not the only victims of this tragedy. Hamas knew that there would be consequences to Oct. 7, but the consequences did not weigh with Hamas.
Its ongoing terrorist operation is calculated to cause maximum fear and distress. The people of Israel have been subjected to a near constant bombardment of rockets from Gaza and Lebanon. Civilians of all kinds — including the elderly, disabled, women, children and babies — have been targeted in a direct breach of the rules of war. 

We share the shock and distress of Israelis, British Jews and compassionate people around the world at the unfolding horror and its consequences.

We call for all the hostages taken on Oct. 7 to be released immediately. It is an essential step on the path to peace and the cessation of hostilities.

We stand in support of British Jews and condemn acts of anti-Semitism.

Following the terrorist attack on Israel, anti-Semitism is surging in the UK. The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded at least 533 anti-Semitic incidents across the UK between 7-20 October 2023, representing an increase of 651 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. 

Children have not been spared. Four Jewish schools in Britain felt compelled to close. One school was vandalised. It is abominable that British children should now live in fear just because they are Jews. All children should be able to attend school without fear. 

British Jews should not live in fear because of actions taken by the state of Israel to defend itself. The British state must do everything in its power to protect them.

While we respect the right of all groups to engage in peaceful protest, we urge the police to enforce the law without fear or favour. 

We ask the media, members of all political parties and everyone in public life to call out Hamas for what it is: a terrorist organisation. 

Hamas, whose actions have led directly and indirectly to the tragic deaths of many Palestinian civilians as well as Israelis, is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK as well as in many other states. The Home Secretary and the Prime Minister have identified Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Failure to use the correct language — describing Hamas as “militants” or “fighters,” for instance — creates the false impression that Hamas and Israel’s armed forces are morally equivalent and is an affront to the group’s victims  — the dead, their families and those currently being held hostage. No one thought this would be necessary in the 21st century but, sadly, it is.