Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joins 68 Bishops and Executive Leaders from churches and denominations from across the world to convey to President Biden the desperate need for the government of Israel to end the bombing campaign and ground invasion of Gaza immediately. Click here to read as a PDF.
November 29, 2023
Dear President Biden:
We, the board members of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), as U.S. Christian leaders, have joined together with 68 Bishops and Executive Leaders from churches and denominations from across the world to convey the desperate need for the government of Israel to end the bombing campaign and ground invasion of Gaza immediately. The letter stating our shared beliefs is below. We condemn all acts of violence against civilians and grieve with Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones. The temporary pause in fighting and the release of some civilian hostages and prisoners is a welcome first step. However, much more needs to be done to secure a durable bilateral ceasefire that will end violence by all sides and provide the opportunity for diplomatic, long lasting solutions.
We write as Christian leaders deeply disappointed with the U.S. government’s response to the current situation in Gaza and Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to date. We appreciate your role in helping to secure the temporary ceasefire and release of some of the civilian hostages, in addition to the increase in access and delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Nonetheless, your Administration’s unwillingness to support a lasting ceasefire has directly contributed to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza, many of whom are children. The continued bombing of Gaza has also endangered the lives of Israelis and other civilians throughout the region, as continued violence only increases the likelihood of a regional war. In addition, throughout the Middle East, Arab countries and civilians view the U.S. as culpable alongside Israel for the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including 6,000 children, in Gaza. Therefore, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure this temporary pause in fighting leads to a durable bilateral ceasefire.
In addition to ending violence, much more must be done to work toward a just and lasting resolution to the conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. For too long, the United States government has been unwilling to properly acknowledge the root causes of violence, which include the decades-long Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. By overlooking root causes, U.S. foreign policy across many Administrations from both political parties has only exacerbated tensions and encouraged endless cycles of violence. U.S. leadership in the service of justice, human rights, peace, and security for all in the Holy Land is desperately needed. You have a unique opportunity to turn the tide of history and finally demand that the fighting stop and that the parties involved resolve their differences through negotiations and diplomatic means. Please do not miss this opportunity. Millions of lives depend on the U.S., no longer being complicit in an unjust war that has already devastated the lives of thousands of civilians. Our prayers are with you in the days and weeks to come. We ask that God give you wisdom and courage to do all you can to bring an end to the killing and the violence.
Respectfully and with great urgency,
See the full list of signatories here.
Photo of Damage in Gaza in October, 2023, from Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages, via Wikimedia.