Document
Geneva, May 21, 2021
To the United Nations Security Council Members,
The World Council of Churches, with more than 350 member churches in 120 countries representing over 560 million people globally, welcomes the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas which has brought a desperately-needed respite from the violence, bloodshed and destruction that Secretary-General Guterres rightly described as “appalling” and “senseless”.
We lament the heavy toll in civilian lives, especially children and women, the destruction of schools and hospitals, and the attacks on the international media during this conflict. The responsibility under international law to protect these populations and institutions is fundamental, and there must be accountability for violations thereof.
The World Council of Churches has long sought peace between the people of the region, recognizing the equal human dignity and rights of all people regardless of national, ethnic or religious identity. Our decades of work and accompaniment in the Holy Land has been based on the principle that a sustainable peace can only be established on a foundation of justice and equality, and achieved through dialogue and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law. This latest round of conflict has added further to the already unbearable burden of suffering and injustice that predisposes to yet more cycles of violence.
We appeal to the UN Security Council to remain seized of this matter, to monitor closely the ceasefire and any violations thereof, and to take appropriate and effective action to maintain the ceasefire and prevent any return to such wanton violence as we have seen over the last 11 days. We urge members of the Security Council to observe a unified and coherent approach to this matter, based on a consistent unbiased application of the relevant principles of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Moreover, we plead for stronger, more assertive and more consistent efforts by the Security Council to ensure that this ceasefire is not merely a lull between recurrent bouts of bloody violence, but that progress is made towards a just and sustainable peace in the region, for which the two-state solution remains – though increasingly disregarded and undermined – the best and most viable route.
Respectfully yours,
Dr Agnes Abuom
Moderator
World Council of Churches Central Committee
Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca
Acting general secretary
World Council of Churches
