140+ Global Christian Leaders Call for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire and Halt of Arms Sales to Israel

In a new letter released during Holy Week ahead of Easter, more than 140 bishops and executive leaders from churches, denominations, and church-based organizations in the UK, US and around the world call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urge the UK, US and other world powers to halt additional arms sales to Israel, and make clear that Israel, the UK, the US and all countries must abide by Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The letter signatories include current and retired Anglican Bishops, including a Lord Spiritual, a US Catholic Bishop, a Catholic Cardinal, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, and many other notable figures from a wide range of churches, including Catholic, Lutheran, Mennonite, Quaker, and Evangelical leaders, from as far afield as Columbia and South Korea.

The letter is reproduced below in full:

March 26, 2024

As Christians around the world prepare to commemorate the final suffering in the earthly life of Jesus Christ during Holy Week, we stand in solidarity with all in the Holy Land who suffer. During Passion Week, Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox alike engage in prayer, reflection, and repentance. We repent of the ways we have not stood alongside our Palestinian siblings in faithful witness in the midst of their grief, agony, and sorrow. Christian witness and engagement with the world must be marked by faithfulness to God, love of neighbor, and mercy toward those who are suffering and in need. For the Holy Scriptures teach, “Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” (Psalm 82:3). 

As the ongoing devastation, bombing, and ground invasion in Gaza continue into their sixth month, Palestinians, including our Palestinian Christian siblings, cry out to the world, asking, “Where are you?” World leaders have responded with empty rhetoric and political volleying about addressing the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza while ignoring the direct causes of the catastrophe. Those causes are the daily bombing and ground invasion by the Israeli military, in addition to the shutting off of basic life-sustaining services to more than two million people who are suffering the consequences of crimes not their own.

As of March 25, 2024, at least 32,333 people in Gaza have been killed, and more than 74,694 have been injured, the vast majority of them women and children. Gaza has been declared one of the most dangerous places in the world to live, where “no place is safe” according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the situation as desperate, as children are dying from hunger and dehydration. The WHO reports that 15 percent of children under the age of two in northern Gaza show signs of wasting, suggesting a serious and rapid decline over just a few months, which is unprecedented globally. The horrific actions Hamas committed on October 7th in no way justify the massive deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli military.

The average number of people killed every day in Gaza is just under two hundred people a day, with roughly one person dying every eight minutes. The slaughter continues every day even as more and more men, women, and children are pulled out from underneath the rubble, and more than 1.8 million people remain displaced. As of late January, reports indicate more than half of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed. All of this compounds the devastation that Palestinians have experienced during Israel’s 16+ year blockade of Gaza and the occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza since 1967. 

Palestinians, South Africans, and experts around the world have said what is happening in Gaza is nothing less than a genocide. South Africa asserted that the Israeli government engaged in action with “genocidal intent” in its complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ’s preliminary ruling found it “plausible that Israel’s acts [in Gaza] could amount to genocide” and issued provisional measures to seek to prevent further deaths. By the end of February, human rights groups around the world asserted Israel had already violated the ICJ ruling by intentionally limiting humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The global church—and world—cannot be silent as people continue to die in Gaza by military assault, lack of adequate medical care, hunger, and disease. 

The U.S., the U.K., Israel, and other countries must uphold their responsibility as signatories to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The United States and other nations’ further militarization of the conflict makes no one safer and instead prolongs suffering and causes more death and destruction. We call on the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and France to join the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Japan to halt additional military support and arms to Israel and not be complicit in the ongoing military campaign that is having such devastating effects on civilians in Gaza. 

We say, “Enough killing!” and together demand a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire. 

On October 7th, Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and internationals, and took more than 240 people hostage in Gaza. We have been clear in our condemnation of these actions of Hamas, which were an atrocious crime. It is believed 100 hostages or more could still be held captive in Gaza. We have consistently called for the remaining hostages to be returned home to their families. 

We, as global Christian leaders, stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Palestine and around the world and say the killing must stop, and the violence must be brought to an end. We ask world leaders to exercise strong moral courage to bring an immediate end to the violence and to open a pathway toward peace and an end to the conflict. We call for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire where all combatants lay down their weapons and Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners held without the due process of law are released. Immediate and adequate humanitarian assistance must be provided for the more than two million Palestinian people in Gaza who have such desperate needs. We support efforts toward a negotiated settlement that addresses the core causes of the current crisis and brings an end to the decades-long violations of the rights of the Palestinian people in accordance with international law, such solutions must advance security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians. As we prepare for Holy Week, we lament and pray for comfort for all who have lost loved ones over the past months in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Israel. We know that Jesus himself was among those who suffered, and he comforted the brokenhearted. We say, “Enough atrocities in Gaza; enough violence, death, and destruction! May love triumph over hate.” We hold onto the hope that peace is possible even in the midst of this darkest hour. 

Sister Rosemarie Abate, Secretary, Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary

Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) 

Christine Allen, Director, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Rev. Dr. Alex Awad, Board Member, Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate Diocese, Armenian Church of America, Eastern

Marvin Barnes, Presiding Clerk, Friends General Conference

Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates, Conference Minister, Penn Northeast Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, President of the Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church

Sister Barbara Brigham, Medical Mission Sisters, Justice Office

Sr. Danielle Bonetti, Coordinator of Justice Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Albany

Rev. Bronwen Boswell, Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)

Adwoa Burnley, Clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Rev. Laurie Larson Caesar, Bishop, Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Reverend LaMarco Cable, Co-Executive, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ (UCC)

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)

Bishop Christian Carlassare, Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, South Sudan

Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, General Secretary, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Sister Janice Cebula, President, Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa USA

Raymond Chang, President, Asian American Christian Collaborative

The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, Church of England 

Shane Claiborne, Co-founder, Red Letter Christians (RLC)

Rev. Tyler Connoley, Conference Minister, Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC)

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church (TEC)

Rev. Edward Davis, Conference Minister, Southern Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

B. Todd Deatherage, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Telos

Marie Dennis, Co-President (Emeritus), Pax Christi International

Sister Ricca Dimalibot, MD, Assistant Congregational Leader and General Councilor, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston

Sister Joan DiProspere, Provincial Councilor, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province

Bishop Vuyo Dlamini, Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Honorable Assistant Bishop Michael Doe, Anglican Diocese of Southwark

The Rev. Emmett L. Dunn, Executive Secretary-Treasurer/CEO Lott Carey Foreign Baptist Mission Convention

Alister Dutton, Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis 

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Rev. Paul D. Erickson, Bishop, Greater Milwaukee Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Ann Farr, Chair,Pax Christi – England and Wales 

Bishop Gilbert Filter, Cape Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa

Sister Margaret Fitzpatrick, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity, Halifax

Cesar Garcia, General Secretary, Mennonite World Conference

Susan Gunn, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Minister Glen A. Guyton, Executive Director, Mennonite Church USA

Lisa Sharon Harper, President and Founder , Freedom Road

Linda Haydock, SNJM, Congregation President, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Fr. Lawrence Hayes, OFM, Provincial Minister Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Kilmore

Bruce Henry, Presiding Clerk, Quakers Australia

Rev. Dr. Tessa Henry-Robinson, Moderator of General Assembly, United Reformed Church 

Ann Graber Hershberger, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

Sister Teresa Hougnon, MM, President Maryknoll Sisters of Saint Dominic

Sister Judy Illig, U.S. Leadership Team, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Right Reverend Dr. John Inge, Lord Bishop of Worcester, Church of England 

Lisa Jernigan, President, Amplify Peace

Kelly Kellum, General Secretary, Friends United Meeting (FUM)

Bishop Donald P. Kreiss, Southeast Michigan Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Jonathan Kuttab, Executive Director, Friends of Sabeel, North America (FOSNA)

Rt. Rev. Michael Langrish, Bishop Emeritus of Exeter, Church of England 

Anselmo Lee, Co-President, Pax Christi Korea

Bishop Dr. Sox Leleki, Methodist Church of Southern Africa 

Tim Livesey, CEO, Embrace the Middle East

Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins, Conference Minister, Heartland Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

John MacMurray, Founder/Director, NW School of Theology and The Open Table Conferences

Sister LaDonna Manternach, President, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Charlotte Marshall, Director, Sabeel-Kairos UK

Archbishop MJ Matebane, Bethel Worship House, Episcopal College of Pentecostal Bishops and Apostles (ECOPBA)

Jarrod McKenna, Pastor and Founding CEO of CommonGrace.org.au, Steeple Church

Very Rev. Andrew McLellan, C.B.E., Former Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland 

Rev. Dr. Leepo Modise, Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa

Bridget Moix, General Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

Rev. Mzwandile Molo, General Secretary (Acting), South African Council of Churches, The Methodist Church of Southern Africa 

Rev. Shadrack Moloi, Bishop/Moderator, African Presbyterian Bafolisi Church (APBC) 

Bishop Yvette Moses, Cape of Good Hope District, The Methodist Church of Southern Africa 

Father Claude Mostowik, MSC, President, Pax Christi – Australia

Rev. Bishop Mamoalusi Vallerie Mothupi, Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Rev. Dr. Lungile Mpetsheni, General Secretary, The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, General Secretary, South African Council of Churches, Ethiopian Episcopal Church, South Africa 

Rev. Gill Newton, President Methodist Conference, Methodist Church in Britain

Archbishop Thami Ngcana, General Secretary, Council of African Independent Churches

Rev. Bishop Sondlile Nkwanyana, The Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Most Reverend William Nolan, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Glasgow

Rev. Moss Ntlha, General Secretary, The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa

Rev. Pumla Nzimande, Presiding Bishop, The Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Father John Oesterle, Board of Directors, Association of Pittsburgh Priests 

Sister Marilyn Omiecyznski, Unit Leader, Presentation Sisters Union, USA Unit

Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada

Rev. Freeman L. Palmer, Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Sister Carolina Pardo, Councilor, Sisters of Saint Francis – Rochester, Minnesota

Anne Peacey, Chair, National Justice and Peace Network – England and Wales 

Mark Pilgram, Chairman, Pax Christi – Munich 

Rev. Dr. Tyrone S. Pitts,,General Secretary (Emeritus), Ecumenical Officer, Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc.

Rev. David K. Popham, Conference Minister, Hawai‘i Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Reverend Shari Prestemon, Acting Associate General Minister & Co-Executive for Global Ministries, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Jennifer Preston, General Secretary, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)

Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini, Bishop of Huehuetenango, Guatemala (Catholic)

Mary Susan Remsgar, OSB, Prioress, Benedictine Sisters of Chicago

Rev. Franz Rigert, Conference Minister, Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Sister Ceil Roeger, Promoter of Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation, Dominican Sisters of Houston

Martha Inés Romero, Secretary General, Pax Christi International

Rev. Chris Rose, Director, Amos Trust

Will Rutt, Executive Director, Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center

Richard L. Santos, President & CEO, Church World Service (CWS)

Deacon Kerry Scarlett, Vice-President of Conference, Methodist Church in Britain 

Sister Debra Sciano, Provincial Leader, School Sisters of Notre Dame 

Sister Maureen Shaughnessy, SC, General Superior, Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

Rev. Grace Shim, Executive Minister, Serve Globally – Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)

Bishop Dr. Sidwell Mokgothu, Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Andrea Smith, Co-Founder and Board Member, Evangelicals for Justice (E4J)

Rev. David Steele, General Secretary, Church of the Brethren

Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., Bishop of Lexington, Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Pax Christi USA

Jean Stokan, Coordinator, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team

Dr. Jer Swigart, Executive Director, Global Immersion

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President, Sojourners

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Dawn Tomaszewski, SP, General Superior, Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana

Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Executive Director, Christians for Social Action (CSA)

The Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, Church of England 

Stephen M. Veazey, President, Community of Christ

Sister Joetta Venneman, Western Province Leadership, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth 

Rev. John Vertigan, Conference Minister, Florida Conference, United Church of Christ (UCC)

Sister Genevieve-Marie Vigil, Provincial Superior, Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny

Jim Wallis, Chair and Director, Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University

Colin P. Watson, Sr., Executive Director (Emeritus), Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA)

Julie Watson, Congregational Leader, Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sister Kathy Wiesneski, Councilor, USA Province, Holy Cross Sisters

Sister Rita A. Wigginton, Councilor, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY

Terry Wildman, Chief Director/President, Rain Ministries Inc.

Bishop Louis Williams, Methodist Church of Southern Africa

The Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry, Church of England

Very Rev. Thomas Zain, Vicar General, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Mary T. Yelenick, Main Representative to the United Nations, Pax Christi International 

Alfonso Zardi, Délégué Général of Pax Christi France

Rev. Dr. Elijah R. Zehyoue, Co-Director, Alliance of Baptists 

Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA

Additional Signatories 

Katie Metres Akbar, CMEP Board Representative, Alliance of Baptist 

Mercy Aiken, NEME Manager, Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East 

Rev. Dr. John Anderson, Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), PCUSA – Bay Area

Robert Atchison, Chair, Menno – Palestine/Israel Network (PIN)

Rev. Harry J. Bury, Professor Emeritus, Twin Cities Nonviolent

Rev. Dr. Rob Dalrymple, Executive Director, Determinetruth

Dr. Andrew DeCort, Founding Director, Institute of Faith and Flourishing 

George Devendorf, CMEP Board Representative, Senior Director, External Relations, Church World Service (CWS)

Eduardo Dueri, Christian Life Community, Columbia 

Hassan El-Tayyab, CMEP Board Representative, Legislative Director for Middle East Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) 

Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler, CMEP Board Representative, Director, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, Church of the Brethren

Sister Helen J. Jaeb, School Sisters of Notre Dame

Grace Keane, OSF, Director Parish Social Ministry, St. Mary of the Hills Catholic Church

Bishop Steven Kellogg, CMEP Board Representative, Community of Christ

Dr. Peter Makari, CMEP Board Representative, Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and 
United Church of Christ (UCC)

Rev. Joe Roos, Friends of Sabeel, North America (FOSNA)

Carolina Sanchez, Christian Life Community, Columbia

Michael J. Sloboda MM, Asst. Pastor, Rosary Church, Kowloon, Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America

Dr. Rob Trawick, Co-Moderator, Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Rev. Susan P. Wilder, Co-Moderator, Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)