Written by World Day of Prayer England Wales and Northern Ireland is horrified at the new war that has just broken out in Israel/Palestine. After all, the theme of next year’s service celebrating the Christian women of this region is “I beg you … bear with one another in love.” In condemning Hamas’s attack launched on the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur war of 1973, we are also led to reflect on the decades of occupation, siege, and human rights violations and abuses that have led up to this moment.
We unequivocally condemn actions of violence that avoid the harder battles of justice. The killing and maiming of civilians, whether by Hamas rockets or Israeli airstrikes are unjustifiable, a war crime under international law. Also, unjustifiable are some of the actions that have led to this current war, including a situation that has turned Gaza into a densely populated area with no means of escape.
This violence will not aid the aims of safety, equality, freedom, and peace. To quote A.J. Muste, theologian, political analyst and former executive director of Fellowship of Reconciliation, an ecumenical Christian charity, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”