Horrific events unfolding this week in Gaza expose again the heartbreaking violence in an escalating humanitarian crisis. A father, accompanying his son to surgery, his son, and four others were killed by a drone that hit the Anglican hospital compound (Al Ahli) on Thursday morning in Gaza City. Palestinians, cut off from food and water, have been shot dead while waiting for aid distributions. The bodies of two more Israeli-American hostages were recovered, instead of having been released alive.
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, told the BBC about the situation in Gaza in an interview on June 4:
“It has become worse… We cannot continue to watch what is happening. It’s surpassing any acceptable, legal, moral, and humane standard. The level of destruction, the level of suffering. More importantly, the fact that we are watching a people entirely stripped of its human dignity. It should really shock our collective conscience.”
Our consciences are deeply shocked, day after day, by this crisis.
What are we as a Christian people to do? Saint Paul tells us that “our citizenship is in heaven.” (Philippians 3:20) Our churches, then, are outposts of the Kingdom of Heaven, also called the beloved community. As disciples of Jesus, the values of this kingdom rule our hearts and minds before any earthly allegiances. Our communities vow, at every baptism and every confirmation, to proclaim, to champion and to embody the kingdom values of the dignity of every human being — EVERY HUMAN BEING — because each of us is created in image of God.
We renew our call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, effective immediately. We speak not just as bishops, but as baptized Christians. It is the work of every Christian to strive for justice and peace. We make that happen by raising our voices – as we are today, and always in a peaceful, nonviolent way – to appeal to the authorities who have the power to end this humanitarian crisis. Together, with God’s help, we can advocate for the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven for all God’s children.
We continue to stand in solidarity with all of our siblings, from every faith tradition, who speak for peace. Commenting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank does not discount the atrocities of October 7, 2023. Challenging current policies of Israel’s government is not antisemitic. The Jewish people and the Jewish faith contain many voices for peace. We stand with all the voices who stand for peace.
We join the Diocese of Jerusalem and share their own call in response to the attacks: “We bid Christians and others of goodwill around the world to join us in their continued prayers and efforts to bring this conflict to a speedy end, leading to the release of all captives, the more comprehensive treatment of the wounded, the feeding of the desperately hungry, and the rebuilding of tens of thousands of homes and public facilities that have been destroyed. Only in this way, we believe, can the healing begin, and the pathway towards a just and lasting peace open for all those living in our beloved Holy Land.”
