D058 Ceasefire in Israel–Hamas War
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 81st General Convention stands with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and other religious leaders in their November call to President Joseph R. Biden for his Administration to support an “immediate ceasefire, de-escalation, and restraint by all involved” in the current Israel–Hamas war; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention stands with past Acts of Convention that have called for peace and equality in the Middle East, including “Justice and Peace in the Holy Land - Our Call to Action” (2022-C039); “Reaffirm Jerusalem as the Shared Capital of Israel and Palestine” (2018-B003); “Commit to a Negotiated Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” (2018-D018); “Support Israeli-Palestinian Peace” (2012-B019); “Urge Congregations Into Conversations With Jews and Muslims” (1994-A012); “Affirm 1993 Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles” (1994-A103); “Affirm Goals of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation for Israelis and Palestinians” (1988-D053); and “Call for Peace in the Middle East” (1982-B047); and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention stands with past Resolves of the Executive Council that have called for peace and equality in the Middle East, including “Support for Peace Between Israel and Palestine” (EXC022010.24) and “Support for the Palestine and Israel Joint Understanding” (EXC022008.16); and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention, which meets on the 260th through 265th days of the Israel-–Hamas War, calls for an equitable, just, and permanent ceasefire in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank and condemns all attacks and killings of innocent lives; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention extends its prayers and condolences for all who have died or have been otherwise traumatized over the course of this war; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention calls for an immediate exchange of all hostages and prisoners held without charge held by parties in the aforementioned war and condemns the taking of hostages, no matter by whom; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention calls for both Israel and Palestine to negotiate in good faith, with a neutral party moderating as needed, for a lasting ceasefire for peace in the region and development of a two-state solution; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention calls on the Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers, and Legislative Leaders in countries where the Episcopal Church has an active presence to assist as necessary in the furthering of an equitable peace in the Middle East, including the leaders of the European Union; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention direct the Secretary of the General Convention and the Office of Government Relations to send a copy of this resolution to all officeholders mentioned in the seventh resolved, and to send a copy to any appropriate Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers, and/or Legislative leaders who did not receive the first copy at the beginning of February 2025.
Explanation
The prophet Isaiah tells us that when the Lord teaches us his ways, we shall beat our swords into plowshares and not study war anymore (Is. 2:3-4). The Episcopal Church, and all Christians, are called to a ministry of proclaiming peace in all walks of life – to “enter the chaos, stand in the middle, and create [an] ‘in-between space’ … [where] people may meet one another, find a safe place, and establish common ground so reconciliation can occur.”[1]
In the midst of the Israel–Hamas War, a deeply divisive conflict both in the Middle East and in the west, the Episcopal Church must maintain its position as the church who “respects the dignity of every human being” (BCP, 305) in calling for peace and justice for all people, not just a select few. Leadership on both sides of this war have failed to live up to the bare minimum standards for war, let alone the ethical position of pacifism, and the United States and other western nations, by their willingness to keep the status quo the status quo, have led us there as well.[2]
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said in a speech to the Church of England’s General Synod that “the evils of Hamas cannot be paid by the civilians of Gaza.”[3] No civilian deserves to be harmed for the evils of the world that surrounds them. Our priority, as Nicholas Kristof wrote, must be being “anti-massacre, anti-starvation, and anti-rape.”[4] While Kristof’s entire article is worthy of commendation, his final paragraph should be our guiding light as we continue to call the world into a foreign policy centered around the principles of the Helsinki Accords, including a respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the right to self-determination:[5]
A wise Palestinian from Jenin, Mohamed Abu Jafar, whose 16-year-old brother had been shot dead by Israeli forces, told me last year: “They can’t kill us all, and we can’t kill them all.” That leaves, he said, one practical option for all of us: working for peace.
Let’s get to it.
[1] Community of the Cross of Nails North America, “The Ministry of Reconciliation,” https://www.crossofnails-na.org/about/history/.
[2] Nayyera Haq, “Israeli and Palestinian leaders failed miserably. Their people will pay the price,” https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/hamas-war-israel-leaders-both-sides-failed-rcna119347.
[3] Justin Welby, “General Synod November 2023 – Joint Presidential Address,” https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/speaking-writing/speeches/general-synod-archbishop-canterburys-presidential-address.
[4] Nicholas Kristof, “How to Think Through the Moral Tangle in Gaza,” The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/01/opinion/israel-gaza-antisemitism.html.
[5] Resolution 1985-D068, “Urge Observance of the Helsinki Accords on Human Rights”.
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