More than 200 Christian leaders sign letter calling for cease-fire in Gaza

Aug 02, 2024

WASHINGTON: More than 200 Christian leaders from an array of traditions have signed a letter calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of hostages taken by Hamas, as well as a list of other measures aimed at providing relief in Gaza.

“We speak out as Christian leaders with a deep concern for the common good of all affected by war and conflict, without exception,” reads the letter, which was organised by Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches based in Washington.

“We speak with urgency. We speak in a spirit of peace. We speak because we are deeply inspired by the courageous and selfless commitment of our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, who suffer alongside their Muslim and Jewish neighbours and remain resolutely determined to help bring about a just and dignified future for all inhabitants of these lands.”

Besides a cease-fire and the return of hostages, the letter goes on to call for “the release of Palestinian prisoners held without due process,” as well as a free flow of humanitarian aid and a halt on shipping arms into the region.

“Without decisive action now, the consequences of this drift to deeper, broader, and more entrenched conflict will be more destruction and loss of innocent lives,” the authors said. “It is time for the international community, as well as Israeli, Palestinian, and regional decision-makers, to act. Our common humanity demands it.”

The letter came before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the US where he was scheduled to address Congress on July 24 and meet with President Joe Biden the following day. A cover letter from CMEP addressed to Biden implores him to use Netanyahu’s visit to annul “monetary and diplomatic cover for Israel to continue its military assault on the people of Gaza.”

Among the signers of the letter were Roman Catholic Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini, bishop of Huehuetenango in Guatemala, and Bishops Steven Biegler of the Diocese of Cheynne in Wyoming; Stephen Lowe of the Diocese of Auckland in New Zealand; Christian Carlassare of the Diocese of Rumbek in South Sudan and Coffi Roger Anoumou of the Diocese of Lokossa in Benin.

The presidents of the Maryknoll Sisters and the Sisters of St Joseph Philadelphia, both orders of nuns, also signed.
Among the Protestants who signed the letter were the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, bishops of the United Methodist Church, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Community of Christ, the Church of England, and the Anglican Church of Sri Lanka.

In addition, the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the general secretary of the Reformed Church in America, a conference minister in the United Church of Christ and the clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) signed it.

The heads of the National Council of Churches, Pax Christi Korea, the Asian American Christian Collaborative, and The Witness, A Black Christian Collective, also signed the letter.

The letter warned that the conflict has the potential to expand into the surrounding region, including the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. It also cautioned that, as nonviolent resistance to decades of occupation is continuously met with “unjustified violence,” individuals will increasingly turn to armed resistance.

“The window for constructive dialogue between combatant parties is rapidly closing. It will be replaced by more violence and further erosion of hope and trust,” said the letter. --NCR