Churches for Middle East Peace Commemorates the one year anniversary of Oct. 7th
As we mark the solemn anniversary of the October 7th attacks, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) pauses to remember the profound loss of human life on that day. The pain and grief experienced by the families and communities with loved ones killed or taken hostage is immeasurable, and our hearts go out to all in Israel, and the international community who continue to mourn.
As we reflect on this anniversary, we also lament and decry the ongoing suffering that has unfolded before and since. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Lebanese, Syrians, and Yemenis have paid the ultimate price in the months following the October 7th attacks. They too are victims of a violence that has engulfed the region and devastated communities.
The hostages taken on October 7th must be released without delay, as must the thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli detention facilities under deplorable conditions—many without charge or trial. Justice demands their freedom be secured, as no person should be subjected to inhumane treatment or indefinite detention, and all should be afforded the civil protections of the due process of law and the application of international human rights and dignity.
Almost a year of constant Israeli air and ground offensives have devastated Palestinians in Gaza, a form of collective punishment for the atrocities of Hamas and other groups on Oct. 7. At least 40,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel’s ongoing military bombardment, with children being among those most affected. The majority of Gaza’s buildings have been reduced to rubble. Basic infrastructure—sanitation systems, places of worship, hospitals, and schools—have been completely destroyed. The people of Gaza are not only suffering from the loss of their homes, regular access to food, and livelihoods but are also enduring a humanitarian catastrophe that demands immediate international attention. Medical professionals and humanitarian actors have reported the restriction of aid, including by Israeli settler groups, being used as a weapon war.
Over the past year we have consistently warned that the inability to reach a comprehensive and durable ceasefire in Gaza would lead to a broader regional war. Unfortunately, the events of the past few weeks, including increased Israeli attacks in Lebanon against Hezbollah, and the Iranian response, are evidence of a regional war that has spread far beyond Israeli borders. This war is to no one’s benefit, especially any of those being held captive or detained, and the continued escalation of violence only deepens the wounds of all affected communities. In addition, the increased violence will only perpetuate increased cycles of hatred and militancy against warring parties in generations to come.
There is no military solution. The path to security for both Israelis and Palestinians does not lie in the perpetuation of violence. The true path forward demands addressing the root causes of this crisis, which pre-date October 7: the occupation of Palestinian lands and the ongoing repression of Palestinian rights. This cycle of violence will not end through the mass killing or oppression of a people. True peace and security can only come through justice, dignity, and the respect of rights for all. As we commemorate this tragic anniversary, let us renew our commitment to peace, to the end of the occupation, and to a future where all people in the region can live in security, free from fear and repression, and with their full rights and dignity.