National Council of Churches Statement on Deaths of Three Israeli Teenagers

National Council of Churches expresses sadness; hopes for peace in #Israel/#Palestine

Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, issued the following statement today in response to news of the deaths of three Israeli teenagers:

“It is with a sense of deep sadness and loss that the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC) receives the tragic news that the bodies of three Israeli teenagers who were kidnapped on June 12 have been found just north of Hebron.

We grieve with their families, with the nation of Israel, and with people around the world upon learning Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel are no longer with us. We pray for their families and all of their loved ones who even now are surely weeping.

The National Council of Churches of Christ remains steadfastly committed to working for a just and peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We pray no one else, not a single Israeli or Palestinian, will die in this struggle.”