Middle East: end violence, protect civilians, cease rhetoric of war, urges WCC

The new wave of violence in the Middle East is a cause for alarm around the world, and all sides should cease the violent confrontation and ensure the protection of civilians, the World Council of Churches (WCC) appealed today.

"The WCC strongly urges all parties to immediately stop and reverse the escalation of the conflict and all use of the rhetoric of war," the WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, said in a statement issued on 13 July.

The statement comes in the context of a rapid escalation of armed conflict in the region, following a day of Israeli military strikes on Lebanese targets, attacks on Israeli armed forces and towns, and weeks of armed conflict in Gaza.

"We insist fully and firmly on the need for all parties to protect civilians - Lebanese, Israeli and Palestinian - in accordance with international law. We call for an end to violent actions, condemning these actions including the destruction of roads, bridges and airport runways and the blockade by sea of Lebanon as is already the case in Gaza," the statement says.

Implementation of international law is "the essential alternative to the cycle of incursions, occupations, violent counter-attacks and international inaction that now looms over the Middle East again," the statement underlines.

Recent WCC calls for equitable Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over Gaza and generally are also reiterated.