Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issue statement on ending the war and promoting life and peace

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem issued the following statement today, as the Israeli assault on Gaza approaches the end of eleven months. They state, “We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, feel compelled to once again express our grave concerns over its dire direction.”

They express the urgent need to end the war, writing, “In view of these alarming developments, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, once again implore the leaders of the warring parties to heed our calls and those of the international community (UNSC Resolution 2735) to reach a rapid agreement for a ceasefire resulting in the end of the war, the release of all captives, the return of the displaced, the treatment of the sick and wounded, the relief of those who hunger and thirst, and the rebuilding of all public and private civilian structures that have been destroyed.

“Just as importantly, we call upon the leaders of these peoples, in concert with the international community, to take up without delay diplomatic discussions addressing longstanding grievances between them, leading to concrete steps that promote a just and lasting peace in our region through the adoption of an internationally legitimate two-state solution.”

Also today, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) released a statement of solidarity with the call of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. CMEP said, “We pray alongside our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land and especially those who continue to take refugee in the St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church and the Latin Family Catholic Church in Gaza after more than ten months of nearly constant bombardment, deprivation, and massive civilians deaths in Gaza. We, stand in agreement with the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem….” CMEP added, “the United States and all international parties should demand positive movement toward a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire without delay, while promoting a constructive diplomatic pathway forward to address longstanding grievances and core issues of the conflict that have gone long unaddressed such as the decades long occupation of the Palestinian people.”

The full statement by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem is below: