World Council of Churches’ Executive Committee issues statement on Gaza

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Calling on its member churches to pray and advocate for those who have suffered because of deadly conflicts in Gaza and Congo, the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches, at its meeting in Bossey, Switzerland, February 17-20, 2009, approved strong statements meant to raise awareness and motivate governments to respond to these tragedies.

The suffering of innocent people in these conflicts has been staggering, the statements say.

The December and January Israeli bombardment of Gaza left more than 1,500 Palestinians dead, most of them women and children. Thousands more were injured and left homeless. Four Israeli civilians were killed as a result of Hamas rockets fired into Israel, the statement says.

“We view these documents as important for the worldwide church to read and disseminate among their congregations,” WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said. “So many people have suffered and lost their lives because of these conflicts, and we can no longer turn a blind eye.”

“There is much we can do,” Kobia said.

The Gaza statement called on WCC member churches and related organizations to “hold their own governments to account” for the responsibilities they bear under international law to help resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.

It also called on the “United Nations to investigate alleged war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by the parties to the Gaza conflict.”

Click to read the statement on Gaza.