The Board of Governors of the Center Club joins with all of our community, state and nation in expressing outrage and heartache over the horrific events underway in Israel. We wish to convey our deepest sorrow, prayers and heartfelt concern for those of our Maryland community and elsewhere who have lost family members and cherished colleagues and friends, or who must now endure the agonizing wait for word over the fate of a loved one taken hostage. We recognize the complexities that have defined this sacred and historic Land, and which have been the cause of so much conflict over the decades between Israelis and Palestinians. However, nothing can ever justify the barbaric and unconscionable torture and slaughter of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, by Hamas - an organization which has as its premise the destruction of Israel and the eradication of the Jewish people. These atrocities and crimes against humanity must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. We are also mindful of the dire humanitarian crisis which the violent actions of Hamas have created for those Palestinians within Gaza who are innocent, but now tragically, also victims. This latest threat to the security of all peoples of Israel, which include Jews and both Muslim and Christian Palestinians, as well as Bedouins, Druze and others, represents a threat to the security of the world. We hope for a swift and decisive end to this war and accountability for those of Hamas who have perpetrated such inhumane evil. We stand in solidarity with all who yearn for an end to violence and who are committed to mutual respect among people of every faith and to creating a world where their children grow-up together in peace and shared prosperity.
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