Read the letter from the director of POLIN Museum on the war in the Gaza Strip.
I have always sought to call evil by its name.
Without a doubt, the bloody attack carried out by Hamas was evil. On October 7, 2023, terrorists committed an unprecedented atrocity. Their treacherous assault on Israel — meticulously planned and executed with extraordinary brutality from the territory of Gaza — had no military objective, its sole aim was to murder and abduct as many innocent Israeli civilians as possible. Among the victims of this crime is Alex Dancyg — a historian, collaborator of our museum, and a
man whose life’s mission was reconciliation: seeking what unites us, despite differences and past wrongs.
But evil also lies in the death and suffering of Palestinians resulting from the Israeli intervention in the Gaza Strip — from bombs, bullets, hunger, and disease. These people are dying with no means to influence their fate: unable to flee, receive medical care, or even surrender. I wish to address you directly — our Audience — who expect the museum to take a stance on the war in Gaza. I am a realist: I do not believe I will be heard by those who think that the institution I have the honor
to lead — and its staff, both Jewish and non-Jewish — should daily criticize the policies of another country and apologize for them. Nor are these words directed at haters driven by antisemitic prejudice. Fortunately, they remain a marginal group. I am speaking to you — those for whom we exist, work, and strive to interpret the past so that we may draw lessons for the present and the future. You have every right to ask us the most difficult questions and expect answers.
I cannot speak on behalf of the entire Polish Jewish community. The debate on Israel and Gaza naturally extends to POLIN Museum team. Positions — just like the opinions you share on social media and in conversations with us — vary, as they do among all who observe Israel and Gaza with concern, fear, and compassion. Therefore, I will speak simply in my own name, hoping that you will accept my words as a testimony to the dilemmas, pain, and uncertainty faced by those who care deeply about the fate of Israel and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.
Soon, two years will have passed since the Hamas attack. Israel, like any country, has the right to defend its borders and citizens. I am not an expert in military operations, but I am a historian and have lived long enough to recognize the signs of a deadlock — in modern times, more than one democracy has fought wars in the name of its society, whose (not always clearly defined) goals, despite the deployment of increasingly powerful military machinery, numerous casualties, and material losses, have only grown more distant with each passing day. This has also been due to mounting internal and international pressure. It is a path to nowhere. There are different kinds of peace. Some ceasefires are concluded in critical moments to avoid total defeat, while others, in hindsight, prove to be wise and lead to reconciliation with the enemy. Today, Israel — a proud and strong country — possesses all the geopolitical and military assets to propose a political solution instead of escalating the conflict, while setting terms favorable to itself.
I align myself with the voices of numerous Israeli intellectuals (as well as those representing the diaspora worldwide) who believe that the key to peace does not lie in the language of gunfire. Even if today this may seem unrealistic or even inappropriate — returning to the path of dialogue is the only viable option. The passage of time will only increase the blood price that must be paid to reach this conclusion.
For me — someone who has lived under totalitarianism and actively resisted it — democracy is more than a method of electing authorities, a set of rules, or written laws. Democracy — when mature, strong, lasting, and just — also means empathy. Empathy is not a sign of weakness, but a strength that enables us to endure.
Zygmunt Stępiński
Warsaw, 11 August 2025
