Palestinian Christians challenge the World Council of Churches
“We need the churches … to voice their prophetic voice, to avoid neutrality, and not to be ‘balanced’ in the midst of genocide, and not to ignore a brutal colonization that preceded October 7th by seven decades.” – A group of Palestinian Christians
“During this critical time, our Palestinian Christian siblings urge the churches and all of us to uphold our moral obligations as believers in the Christian faith: to courageously, honestly, and lovingly proclaim the Word of God in our local contexts and amidst daily events regarding the apocalyptic horrors Palestinians endure. They implore us to boldly stand with the oppressed, as Jesus stood with the poor, seeking to restore the dignity bestowed upon them by God, which no one has the right to strip away.” – Rev. Steve Berube, CFOS board member
Palestinian Christians challenge the World Council of Churches
The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, on 6-11 June 2024, issued several calls related to the appalling and widespread suffering of the civilian population of Gaza. Among other calls, these include:
that all parties initiate an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, to ensure unhindered humanitarian measures,
that governments worldwide support initiatives to reduce violence, de-escalate tensions and foster long-term peace and stability in the region,
that WCC member churches “support the people of Gaza and the region including through advocacy towards their governments…as well as …support to refugees and displaced persons,”
that “Israeli authorities and all members of the international community …ensure accountability for and prevention of the escalating settler violence in the West Bank,”
that there be “full legal accountability through the relevant judicial organs for all violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws” by both Israeli forces and Hamas.
See the complete statement here.
However, a number of Palestinian Christians, who have asked to remain anonymous, have expressed serious concerns regarding the shortcomings of the statement. The group says the statement:
avoids applying the unambiguous term “genocide,”
fails to mention the context of Israel’s 17-year blockade of Gaza, and 7 decades of settler colonialism,
uses selective language which “while it lacks specifications in terms of identifying the aggressor when the perpetrator is Israel on the one hand, it uses strong language and adjectives when the perpetrators are Palestinian on the other,”
tends “to shrink the just Palestinian cause to the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza,” rather than more broadly “the Palestinian quest for freedom and justice”
put on equal footing the 37,000 Palestinians killed during Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and the 1200 Israelis killed on October 7th, obscuring “the stark differences in power dynamics” and “the massive asymmetry of powers at play.”
Please pray for Palestinians Christians and the global Christian community as we all seek to speak and act in ways that will end the catastrophic genocide being inflicted on Gaza. Our CFOS website includes numerous prayer resources.
CFOS is hiring!
CFOS is looking for a part-time Mapping Coordinator for our Influencer Project. This project is a three-year joint initiative with Sabeel Jerusalem and Friends of Sabeel North America. It will bring to East Jerusalem 250 influencers from Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. to acquaint them with the Palestinian identity of Jerusalem, its culture, and its people. The goal is that these influencers will inspire their own networks to promote East Jerusalem as a Palestinian destination and to become awareness-raising advocates for the Palestinians’ pursuit of freedom, equality and justice. .
A job description is here.
If you are interested, send your CV to executive-director@friendsofsabeel.ca
Deadline for applications is Monday, July 8, 2024.
A new idea to reach a ceasefire?
The United Nations has been grossly ineffective at ending the Gaza genocide, particularly because of US vetoes at the Security Council. At last count, 146 countries have recognized Palestine as a country, and its entry as a full UN member is prevented only by US veto. One mechanism for making the UN more effective is the procedure known as a Uniting for Peace resolution in the UN General Assembly. Here’s how it is designed to work:
In the event that the Security Council, “because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security…, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately with a view to making appropriate recommendations to Members for collective measures.”
This measure could clear the way for steps to encourage Israel to comply. See an analysis of using the Uniting for Peace procedure in the Gaza case here. See UN descriptions of this mechanism for Emergency General Assembly Sessions here.
Please urge Canada to promote a Uniting for Peace resolution at the UN General Assembly. Contact the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s offices, as well as your own MP.
Email address for the Prime Minister: pm@pm.gc.ca
Email address for the Foreign Minister: Melanie.Joly@international.gc.ca
Find your MP’s coordinates here.
Counting the dead, wounded and missing
In the violent chaos that is daily life in Gaza since last October 7, it is increasingly difficult to obtain accurate updated numbers of deaths, injuries, and disappearances, especially in the case of Palestinians. As of June 28, The Palestine Chronicle posts figures of 37,765 killed, 86,429 wounded, 11,000 missing. The Palestine Chronicle is a non-profit non-politically-affiliated organization with a long list of highly respected journalists and contributors.
source: https://www.palestinechronicle.com
The proportion of those Palestinians casualties who are women and children is estimated to be at least 50% and as high as 70%, depending on the reporting source. The figures most commonly relied on are those of OCHA, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. According to OCHA, total confirmed Israeli deaths in Israel on October 7-8 are 1162, including at least 33 children, and 266 Israelis killed in Gaza since the invasion began. See latest OCHA figures about the Gaza conflict here.
Another important and up-to-date source on casualties is Al-Jazeera. View their map, charts and infographics here. A key source on Gaza’s missing children – not to mention the killed, injured and orphaned – is Save the Children. View their recent report here.
Once more on the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage
If you haven’t already seen it, check out the comprehensive article in Perspective, the digital periodical of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, on the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage. It includes a substantial section on our Chairperson, Rula Odeh, along with excellent quotes by several church leaders.