Church groups welcomed the ceasefire that followed 11 days of violence in the Holy Land in May, but have called for renewed efforts to find a lasting place in Israel.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, the World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, while at the same time urging the UN to take a more assertive role to ensure the ceasefire is not simply a lull in the violence. The letter laments the ‘heavy toll in civilian lives, especially children and women’ – which has overwhelmingly affected the people of Gaza but which has also affected communities in Israel – as well as 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” the letter stresses, “And there must be accountability for violations thereof.”