Kairos Palestine statement on Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
“But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”
Amos 5:24
Jerusalem/ Bethlehem, Monday January 20th, 2025.
In light of the recent ceasefire agreement between the Israeli occupation and Hamas, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Palestinian people for their steadfastness and resilient spirit during these challenging and bloody times. We deeply mourn for more than 47,000 Palestinians who have lost their lives and offer our sincerest condolences to their families and to the families who have suffered the devastating loss of their homes and properties. To the over 115,000 injured, we wish a swift and full recovery. The release of prisoners brings a moment of relief and joy; however, we emphasize that this is but a one step toward true peace and justice.
While we welcome the ceasefire and the prisoners exchange, we hope that the Israeli Prime Minister and his ultra-right-wing government will not sabotage the deal, as they did for the past months. A genuine cessation of the genocidal war must follow the release of prisoners. We also urge the international community to commit to rebuilding Gaza without conditions and not to abandon its people and leave them to their pain and suffering, as has tragically happened after the previous Israeli wars on Gaza.
The devastation in Gaza is immense. Approximately 70% of structures have been damaged or destroyed, including over 250,000 homes. More than 30 hospitals have been destroyed, severely impacting access to healthcare, especially for the injured ones. The United Nations estimates that over 50 million tons of rubble now cover Gaza, clearing this debris alone is expected to take over 14 years, with rebuilding potentially extending to 2040.
Accountability remains paramount. We call upon the international community to ensure international human rights standards and that the rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are respected and implemented without delay. The Israeli prolonged occupation and apartheid must come to an end, and the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights and their right to self-determination must be recognized and upheld.
We further emphasize that what is happening in Gaza must not come at the expense of the Palestinians in the West Bank including Jerusalem. The Gaza ceasefire agreement must not pave the way for further Israeli annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank or another wave of killing, maiming, destruction and displacement of Palestinians there, with the blessing of some western superpowers that uphold colonial policies and practices towards our people. Gaza’s suffering cannot be used as a cover for ignoring or worsening the situation of Palestinians in other parts of Palestine including the 1948 areas.
We also call for immediate access to Gaza for journalists and international fact-finding missions. The truth of what has happened during this time of genocide must be exposed to the world. Only through transparency and accountability can we ensure that such massacres and war crimes are not repeated in Palestine and in any other area worldwide.
The international powers should make of this cease fire a definitive cessation of war, impeding the threats of present Israeli government to restart war after the one month cease fire.
We express our profound gratitude to all nations, churches, organizations, universities and all people that have stood in solidarity with Palestine, advocating for the rights of our people and supporting our just cause and demands for dignity and justice. It is imperative that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) continues its vital work until the right of return for Palestinian refugees is honored and fully implemented. The Israeli aggressive plans against UNRWA should be condemned and stopped by all countries’ members of the UN.
The complete lifting of the illegal embargo on Gaza is a just step and essential to allow for the flow of the humanitarian aid into Gaza and for an immediate commencement of reconstruction efforts. Rebuilding schools, universities, hospitals, and critical infrastructure must be prioritized to restore dignity and normalcy to the lives of our people.
Finally, we call upon our political leaders to rise up to this historic moment. Now is the time for national unity and collective united leadership to guide us toward independence and sovereignty. Only through a united front can we secure the future that all Palestinians deserve.
While the ceasefire and prisoner exchange mark significant progress, lasting peace can only be achieved through justice, accountability, and the explicit recognition of our rights.
We wrote in our Kairos Palestine document in section 4.3 “Our future and their future are one. Either the cycle of violence that destroys both of us or peace that will benefit both”. Till then, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a future where our people live freely, with peace, dignity and independence in our homeland.