Document
On this second anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks, the World Council of Churches (WCC) expresses its deep sorrow and joins in prayerful remembrance for all those who have suffered the consequences of that day and of the devastating war that has followed.
The WCC unequivocally condemns the attacks against civilians and communities carried out by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October 2023, which constitute crimes against humanity and violations of fundamental morality. We continue to pray for the victims, the survivors, and those who remain in captivity.
Two years on, the world witnesses a human catastrophe in Gaza of unprecedented scale. Tens of thousands of civilians—most of them women and children—have been killed, and almost the entire population has been displaced amid famine, disease, and destruction. The WCC condemns the collective punishment by Israel of a civilian population, in violation of international law and moral conscience.
As churches committed to the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity, we affirm that the tragic cycle of violence will not be broken without addressing its underlying causes. Decades of occupation, blockade, and systemic inequality have perpetuated insecurity and eroded hope for a just peace. A sustainable future for both Palestinians and Israelis depends on upholding international law, ensuring equal rights and dignity for all, and advancing a genuine political process grounded in justice and mutual recognition.
In this spirit, the WCC takes note of the recently presented peace plan for Gaza under the auspices of the United States and Israel. We welcome elements that aim at ending hostilities, enabling humanitarian relief and reconstruction, affirming the right of the people of Gaza to remain on their land, and the release of hostages and prisoners. Yet for this plan to offer true hope, it must ensure the meaningful participation of Palestinians in determining their own future, guarantee the protection of civilians, and open a genuine political horizon towards a solution in which Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, dignity and mutual security.
Today, as we remember the victims of 7 October and the many more who have perished since, the WCC prays that the memory of their suffering will not harden hearts, but awaken the resolve to end oppression, occupation, and all forms of hatred, and to seek together a just and lasting peace that honours the dignity of every human being. Let us give peace a chance!
“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
