Over 13,000 people including playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, former Prime Minister Liz Truss, and Richard Dawkins have signed an open letter condemning antisemitism and expressing support for British Jews.

The letter, entitled the October Declaration, calls on the media and "everyone in public life" to call out Hamas as terrorists and avoid any moral equivalence between Israel and the Islamist group.

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

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

Signatories include former foreign secretary Lord David Owen, presenter Rachel Riley and Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of the Secret Intelligence Service.

The letter, organised by a group of media and political figures including journalist Allison Pearson and barrister Francis Hoar, highlights how the Hamas attack against Israel saw more Jews killed on one day than any other since the Holocaust.

"On 7 October 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," it reads.

"We are aware that Jews are not the only victims of this tragedy. Hamas knew that there would be consequences to 7 October, 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."

The letter was published as the Israeli military confirmed that 222 hostages are currently being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The IDF said it has struck over 300 targets across the Palestinian territory in preparation for an anticipated ground offensive against the terror group.

The October Declaration can be signed at: https://britishfriendsofisrael.org/