The International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament (IOSOT) condemns the inhuman acts of terrorism against the Jewish and democratic state of Israel and its citizens undertaken by Hamas on Shabbat, October 7, 2023, in the strongest possible terms. No political cause, nor any conflict between nations can ever justify or relativize such atrocities.
Our full and unwavering solidarity is with our colleagues and friends in Israel. Together with them, we grieve for the many murdered, mourn the injured, and lament the suffering that Hamas has brought upon Israel, the civilian population of Gaza, and the entire region. We are deeply concerned about the spiral of hate and retribution and the suffering of innocent civilians.
As an organization formed in the aftermath of World War II to promote international and interdenominational research on the Hebrew Bible, the IOSOT is firmly committed to providing Jewish scholars with a safe space for their research. We call all organizers and participants of future meetings to support this aim unconditionally. Moreover, we urge all colleagues of our organization and other allies to be vigilant about the growing anti-Semitism both in the Middle East and abroad and take a firm stand against it.
Bernd U. Schipper (president of IOSOT), Annette Schellenberg (general secretary of IOSOT)
