Jewish leaders and celebrities unite against Trump's Gaza plan in historic New York Times ad

By bellecarter // 2025-02-19

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Over 350 rabbis and prominent Jewish figures, including celebrities like Joaquin Phoenix and Ilana Glazer, condemned President Donald Trump's proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza. They published a full-page ad in the New York Times titled "Jewish People Say No to Ethnic Cleansing!" organized by the grassroots campaign In Our Name.
Jewish leaders and activists denounced the plan as morally reprehensible and historically resonant, drawing parallels to Jewish persecution. Rabbi Yosef Berman likened Trump’s rhetoric to biblical tyranny, emphasizing Jewish teachings against dehumanization and land theft.
Polls show 64 percent of likely U.S. voters disapprove of Trump's proposal, with growing sympathy for Palestinians among Democrats. The ad's signatories span diverse Jewish traditions and global communities, reflecting broad opposition to the plan.
The campaign emphasized its nonpartisan nature, with Jewish leaders across the political spectrum uniting against the proposal. Over 1,000 additional Jewish leaders and community members worldwide have since joined the call, signaling a groundswell of resistance.
The ad comes amid Israel's ongoing war on Gaza, which has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the UN and Amnesty International. These groups have accused Israel of genocide, further fueling opposition to Trump’s plan and highlighting the interconnectedness of Jewish and Palestinian safety.

Over 350 rabbis and prominent Jewish figures, including actor Joaquin Phoenix, playwright Tony Kushner and comedian Ilana Glazer, joined forces on Feb. 13 to denounce President Donald Trump's controversial proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza. The group took out a full-page ad in the New York Times titled, "Jewish People Say No to Ethnic Cleansing!" The ad, organized by the grassroots campaign In Our Name, comes just over a week after Trump announced his plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to turn Gaza into a beach resort and permanently displace its Palestinian population. The announcement has sparked widespread condemnation from Democrats, international bodies, and now, a significant portion of the Jewish community. The ad and accompanying statements reflect a growing outcry against what many describe as a morally reprehensible and historically resonant proposal. For Jewish leaders and activists, the stakes are deeply personal, rooted in a history of persecution and a commitment to justice.

A moral stand against ethnic cleansing

The ad's message is unequivocal: Trump's plan is an affront to Jewish values and a dangerous escalation of violence against Palestinians. "As Jews for Shared Safety, we know our history demands that we take a stand against ethnic cleansing – wherever it happens," wrote IfNotNow, a Jewish advocacy group, in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The group emphasized the urgency of the moment, stating, "Trump wants to erase Palestinians from Gaza. We must be louder than ever." Rabbi Yosef Berman of the New Synagogue Project in Washington, D.C., drew a stark parallel between Trump's rhetoric and biblical tyranny. "Donald Trump – like Pharaoh in the Bible – seems to believe he is God with authority to rule, own, and dominate our country and the world," Berman said. "Jewish teaching is clear: Trump is not God and cannot take away Palestinians' inherent dignity or steal their land for a real estate deal." The ad's signatories span a wide spectrum of Jewish traditions, including Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal and Kohenet movements. These leaders represent congregations, campuses, hospitals and community organizations worldwide, underscoring the breadth of opposition to Trump's proposal.

Public opinion and political backlash

The backlash against Trump's plan extends far beyond the Jewish community. New polling by Data for Progress reveals that 64 percent of likely U.S. voters disapprove of the proposal. A separate survey by The Economist and YouGov found that 35 percent of Democrats now sympathize with Palestinians. These figures reflect a shifting political landscape, particularly among younger and more progressive voters. (Related: Trump repeats call for complete ethnic cleansing of Gaza after Netanyahu meeting.) Cody Edgerly, director of the In Our Name campaign, emphasized the nonpartisan nature of the effort. "This action is unbranded and unaffiliated," Edgerly told Middle East Eye. "Jewish leaders from across the political spectrum are outraged by the proposal and felt compelled to speak forcefully against it, even as some American and Israeli Jewish communal leaders endorse Trump's plan." Since the ad's publication, over 1,000 additional Jewish leaders and community members from around the globe have signed the call, signaling a groundswell of opposition to Trump's vision for Gaza. For many signatories, the ad represents more than a rejection of Trump's plan – it is a call to action rooted in Jewish history and values. Glazer framed the issue in terms of shared humanity and interconnected safety. "We, Jews, and all of us who care about basic human rights must speak up and stand up to ensure Palestinians remain on their land so they can rebuild their homes and lives in Gaza after the genocidal destruction they have endured," Glazer said. "All of our safety is intertwined." Peter Beinart, author of "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning," lamented the silence of many in the Jewish community. "It is utterly horrifying to see the degree to which people who enjoy great legitimacy and respect in our community are willing to support something that would be considered one of the greatest crimes of the 21st century," Beinart said. Head over to Genocide.news for related stories. Watch the video below that talks about Trump's "ethnic cleansing" plan in Gaza. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

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A moral stand against ethnic cleansing

Public opinion and political backlash

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