President’s Newsletter Spring 2025
BBUK • April 7, 2025
See the 2025 April Newsletter from BBUK President Alan Miller for the latest news and updates, including:
- Israel - Qiryat Gat update
- Ukraine - updates from Kyiv and Chernivitsi
- News from the Lodges
- Bureau of International Affairs Director represents BBUK at the BBI annual delegation to UNESCO in Paris
- B’nai B’rith UK’s Valerie Bello wins prestigious Heritage Alliance 'Heritage Hero Lifetime Award’
- “Policing in a Post 7/10 world – Opportunities and Challenges”

B’nai B’rith UK would like to express our immense sorrow at the return to Israel of the bodies of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, their mother Shiri Bibas and peace activist Oded Lifshitz. We mourn the loss of their beautiful souls and send comfort to their families at a time of deep sadness and anguish. As a community, we clung to hope that these innocents would be returned safely to their families. Now we know that they were victims of Hamas’s fathomless barbarism and cruelty. Indeed even in death, they could not be respected. Few of us will forget how their coffins were daubed with vile slogans and subjected to a ghoulish and obscene display of propaganda. The killing of these innocents reminds us that Israel’s enemies have an insatiable appetite to murder Jews. They are the enemies of their own people, not just Israelis, and they must play no role in Gaza, and beyond. We call for all remaining hostages to be released now and for the world to stand by Israel as it seeks to protect its citizens.

Since 7 October, B’nai B’rith UK has campaigned for the release of all hostages held in Gaza. Reports confirm that they have been held in appalling conditions and subjected to various forms of torture and degrading ill treatment. We welcome the fact that in the ceasefire proposal just announced, some of these hostages will be released back into the arms of their loving families. It is essential that they are given the time and space to rehabilitate after what they have endured. Ultimately, all the hostages must be released. At the same time, we remain deeply concerned at the heavy price that this deal will incur, especially if it means that Hamas will survive in the long term. We must never forget the acts of unspeakable savagery that were committed on 7 October and the promise that these would be repeated if Hamas had the chance. It is essential that these terrorists are never again allowed to rule Gaza if there is to be any chance of long term peace and security.