Document
Seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause.
(Isaiah 1:17)
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is deeply concerned by the ongoing and widespread Israeli attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure in occupied Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon, spilling over into neighbouring Syria and beyond.
The toll of these brutal military attacks is appalling. They have led to a catastrophic loss of life, with more than fifty thousand civilians killed – including children, humanitarian workers, medical personnel, and journalists – and tens of thousands severely injured and traumatized. We observe with deep sorrow the ongoing attacks on hospitals, clinics, and ambulances in Gaza and Lebanon, which have decimated essential healthcare services. The intentional destruction of medical facilities, denial of humanitarian access, and obstruction of aid violate both international law and the sanctity of life.
In northern Gaza under siege, an estimated 400,000 people are trapped, denied access to basic necessities such as food, water, fuel, and medical care, which contravenes international humanitarian law and human dignity. The severity of acute food insecurity in Gaza has sharply worsened since early October, when Israel began to increasingly restrict humanitarian and commercial food supply flows to the north and commercial food supply flows to the south. In the worst-affected areas in northern Gaza, a siege has caused the near-total blockade of food supply flows since 1 October 2024. For much of northern Gaza, famine is looming.
Reports from UNICEF confirm that countless children bear the physical and emotional scars of conflict, many having been mutilated by explosive weapons, while over a million children face the risk of starvation.
Against the background of the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza, intensified rocket attacks by Hezbollah led to the evacuation of large numbers of Israelis from their homes in northern Israel. Since September 2024, Israeli missile strikes in Lebanon have killed over 3,000 people, injured more than 13,000, displaced over 1.2 million, and devastated critical infrastructure and the nation’s fragile economy. More than thirty entire villages and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
The wider regional expansion of these conflicts into Syria is further destabilising the region, with ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting infrastructure and civilian areas in Syria, including in Damascus. This sustained violence has led to tragic civilian casualties and inflicted damage on key cultural and economic sites, including UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lebanon and Syria. The regional impact of these actions continues to fuel instability, posing a grave threat to prospects for lasting peace.
New laws recently adopted by Israel’s parliament seek to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) operations in both the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, while also preventing Israeli officials from cooperating with the agency. This will further intensify the vulnerability of countless children and families who depend on the essential humanitarian support UNRWA provides. Beyond meeting immediate humanitarian needs, UNRWA is the principal provider of social services, such as education for the children of Gaza. Moreover, UNRWA stands as a sign of commitment of the international community to the right of return and the pursuit of a just resolution of the Palestinian refugee issue.
The UN Commission of Inquiry[1] has recently concluded that aspects of both Hamas’ and Israel’s actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. This war and its tragic consequences underscore the need for accountability and immediate intervention by the global community to protect the sanctity of human life and uphold international law. It is crucial to break the cycle of violence and address the underlying issues – such as political oppression, prolonged Israeli occupation, economic marginalization, and the lack of accountability – that generate feelings of anger, frustration, and alienation among the populations of the region. These unaddressed grievances create fertile ground for all kinds of extremism, including religious extremism.
The suffering of the region is not just a regional crisis but a global moral and political challenge. Selective application of international law, often influenced by political interests, erodes trust in global governance and undermines efforts to achieve peace. We are all called to focus on the shared values that bind our humanity. Only through a collective commitment to justice, accountability, and peace, and to respect for the relevant legal frameworks created to protect all of us from the abuses of the powerful, can we hope to restore security, dignity and justice for all in the region, and around the world.
Plausible allegations of genocide in Gaza, war crimes and violations of fundamental international humanitarian law and principles - as well as scholasticide and ecocide – demand urgent global attention and accountability. With regard to the issue of humanitarian assistance, as the borders of Gaza are controlled by the Israel Defense Forces, it is the obligation of the State of Israel to ensure necessary food and medical goods for the Palestinian population of the territory.
The relevant international legal authorities for the adjudication of these issues – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) – are currently engaged in preliminary processes (including the arrest warrants issued by the ICC) prior to final determination thereof.
Meeting on 21-26 November 2024 in Cyprus, in close proximity to the affected region and deeply conscious of these grave realities, the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches issues the following calls:
1. Ceasefire and Humanitarian Access
We call for an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, and the broader region to prevent further loss of life and livelihoods, and to restore compliance with international law. In further recognition of relevant obligations under international humanitarian law, we demand the elimination of obstacles to humanitarian access and call for the unconditional facilitation of humanitarian aid for those trapped in conflict zones, in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as Lebanon, Syria and other conflict-affected areas.
2. Arms Embargo and Sovereignty
We call for an arms embargo on Israel and to prevent arms transfers to armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah whose actions indicate serious violations of international law, in order to prevent the further escalation of violence and to protect civilians. We also urge respect for the territorial integrity of all states in the region, whose sovereignty Israel violates with impunity.
3. Sovereign Palestinian State
We affirm the urgent necessity of a sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, recognizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination as enshrined in international law. It is essential that they enjoy the same fundamental rights in this regard as are upheld for others. We stand in prayerful support of all efforts to bring about a just and lasting solution that ensures a viable, independent Palestinian state.
4. The Rule of Law, and the Role of the United Nations
We reiterate WCC’s conviction that respect for the relevant principles of international humanitarian and human rights law is an essential foundation for achieving sustainable peace in the region. We welcome the mobilization of the relevant legal authorities such as the ICJ and ICC on this situation, and we call for full accountability for all violations. Justice, rooted in equal human rights – including the right to self-determination – is not only a moral imperative but a prerequisite for stability in the region. We reaffirm WCC’s support for the role of the United Nations, especially UNRWA, in the provision of essential humanitarian assistance and support for the populations threatened by this conflict, fulfilling a responsibility that Israel as the occupying power bears but refuses to fulfil.
5. Solidarity with Middle Eastern Churches and Communities
We stand in steadfast support of churches in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Palestine/Israel, where all communities face immediate threats to life and livelihood. In addition, Christian communities confront broader challenges, including confiscation of church properties, dwindling numbers and cultural erosion. We urge churches worldwide to provide practical support, resources, and advocacy to protect the future of these communities, honouring the Gospel’s call to stand with those in need.
6. Religious Justification
We categorically reject any interpretation of religion that justifies occupation, violence, or the dehumanization of others, and call again for member churches to study and reflect on the implications of so-called ‘Christian Zionism’ in this regard. Such distortions of faith, employed to legitimize political ambitions, represent a betrayal of religious truth. WCC calls on all faith communities to stand united against the weaponization of religion, and commit to promoting nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution.
7. Commitment to Peace and Justice
As a global fellowship of churches, we remain committed to advocating for justice, peace, and the protection of human lives and all of God’s Creation. We call on the global community to act with integrity, courage, and compassion. In the words of Isaiah, “Seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17). May these principles guide our collective pursuit of a just and lasting peace for all people of the Middle East.
[1] Full title: Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
