Statement from CFOS marking a year after October 7, 2023

Since October 7, 2023, Canadian Friends of Sabeel has witnessed with horror the escalation of violence and immense suffering for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and the whole region. Along with our long time partners in Canada and in the Holy Land — Palestinian and Israeli; Christian, Muslim and Jewish — we mourn the tragic impact on our hopes for peace with justice at this time. We unequivocally condemn catastrophic genocide, ethnic cleansing, displacement and destruction carried out by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. We recognize this to be another step in a policy of ethnic cleansing begun in 1948.

During this past year, we have been united in solidarity, prayer and advocacy with our Palestinian Christian partners. And we have joined with our Canadian church partners to call on the Canadian government to take urgent and meaningful action to protect civilians as required by international humanitarian and human rights law and by rulings by the International Court of Justice.

We applaud the courageous actions taken by various churches and church-related organizations – actions that in total call for an enduring and sustained ceasefire, open access for the flow of humanitarian aid, the release of captives, the end of occupation, an embargo of arms to Israel, a suspension of diplomatic relations, and the imposition of lawful targeted economic and political sanctions against Israel (as was undertaken against South Africa during the Apartheid era).

Through this past year, we at CFOS have been heartened by the courage, commitment and faithful witness of the Palestinian Christian community in the face of unfolding catastrophe. We encourage all Canadian Christians to pray for and stand with their siblings in Christ in Palestine. And we call on all Canadians of good conscience to continue to press our political leaders and elected representatives to take bold action in support of the international law which protects all civilians worldwide. The humanity of all people depends on this.