Global Ministries

A Call for the German Bundestag to Reverse its May 17, 2019 Resolution,
“Resisting the BDS movement decisively – fighting antisemitism”
May 23, 2019

Christians in Palestine are saddened and confused to learn of the German Bundestag’s passage of a resolution condemning the International Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) and making it equal to anti-Semitism. The Palestinian BDS movement embraces the logic of peaceful means of resistance against the ongoing occupation and the Israeli human rights violations and discriminatory measures against our people. It means inviting Israel to the ways of peace, even by instituting some kind of pressure to help the government to open its eyes and see the injustice it is imposing on another people, the Palestinians.

The ‘Great March of Return’ protest was cancelled by the organizers for only the second time in over a year. A large demonstration had already taken place in Gaza on Wednesday, the 15th of May to commemorate Nakba Day and call for their right to return to their homes to be recognized. Sixty-five Gazans were injured during that demonstration as the Israeli army used live fire and tear gas against ten thousand protestors.

Lord, we pray for all those who were injured during the demonstration in Gaza. We continue to pray for an end to the blockade of Gaza and for the right of return to their homes for the Palestinian refugees. Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

With deep concern over the latest hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and ACT Alliance express their belief that the present situation in the Gaza Strip is morally and ethically untenable. We offer our heartfelt sympathies to all the victims, killed and injured and their families, of the recent intense spate of violence.

All parties to the conflict must face up to their responsibilities and their moral and legal accountability.

On April 30, 2019, U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced H.R. 2407, the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, a bill prohibiting U.S. taxpayer funding for the military detention of children by any country, including Israel.  It is similar to the bill she introduced in Nov. 2017 (H.R. 4391—“Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act”), with some updates and changes.  Significantly, the new bill prohibits U.S. military aid from being used by foreign armed forces to support the military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children in violation of international humanitarian law.

The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege protests continued this week, with organizers emphasizing the importance of keeping the protests non-violent and away from the fence. Abdullah Abed al-Ail, 24, was killed by Israeli live ammunition, while 30 others, including four children and a paramedic, were injured.

Lord, we continue to pray for the safety of the Palestinian protesters and for their rightful demands to be answered. We pray that those who have been injured may soon recover and that grieving family of Abdullah may find solace. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

The following reflection is by (Latin Catholic) Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, H.B. Michel Sabbah. 

There is a war on Gaza, as it has been once, twice and more. Gaza and its people are in a state of permanent war. It has been under constant siege for 13 years, which is war imposed upon them every day. Today, the month of Ramadan has started for fasting, prayer, repentance and good deeds. Instead, we see death exploding in and around Gaza. Israel itself complains of the war. Yesterday, Sunday May 5th, the Israeli Defense Minister tweeted and  cried out to the world to notice and see Israelis waking up for the second day in a row of  rockets coming from Gaza and falling in Israel.

Following the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege protests, during which three Gazans were killed, the situation in Gaza again seems desperate: Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for hundreds of rockets fired by militia from Gaza towards Israel resulting in the death of four Israelis and around 23 Palestinians, with many more injured. These bombardments cruelly punish the mainly peaceful people of Gaza, whose desire is to live with dignity and freedom. An Egyptian negotiated ceasefire took effect early this week, but any break in hostilities is very fragile.

God of peace, our prayers for a real and lasting cease-fire and the protection of the civilians are unending. From lack of water, electricity, and medical supplies to the onset of diseases, the humanitarian disaster caused by the Israeli blockade of in Gaza from both land and sea has no immediate end.  Lord, comfort your people in Gaza; be with them in the shelters, in their broken neighborhoods, in the overcrowded hospitals, and in the lines as they wait for water.  Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.

Between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are detained by and prosecuted in Israeli military courts each year. Since 2000, more than 10,000 children have been subjected to the military court system, which does not guarantee their rights of due process, highlighting the two-tiered system of justice in the occupied Palestinian territories—Israeli civil courts for Israeli settlers, and Israeli military courts for Palestinians.

On April 30, 2019, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced H.R. 2407, the "Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act," a bill prohibiting U.S. taxpayer funding for the military detention of children in any country, including Israel.

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Strongly Endorses Rep. Betty McCollum’s “Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living under Israeli Occupation Act”  

On Wednesday, Rep. Betty McCollum introduced H.R. 2407, “The Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living under Israeli Occupation Act.” Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) strongly endorses this legislation as a proactive step toward safeguarding the lives of vulnerable children caught in the middle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.