In the face of escalating violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and northern Israel, church organizations held a virtual solidarity visit on August 7 and 8, instead of their planned in-person meeting.
The online gathering aimed to foster peace and address the urgent needs of the region, as confirmed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its partners, including the Middle East Council of Churches, ACT Alliance, and Caritas Internationalis.
The virtual event was initially meant to be an on-site visit from August 5 to 9 but was moved online due to safety concerns amid the conflict.
Rev. Jerry Pillay, the WCC General Secretary, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the in-person visit, particularly to Gaza, emphasizing the dire situation faced by the local populace.
“The world needs to stop, to listen, and the international communities need to respond more. It was deep, profound, and powerful in terms of realizing the need to get involved—and to get involved with significant change,” said Pillay.
Throughout the sessions, various leaders shared their insights and the profound impact of the discussions. Peter K. Nasir, General Secretary of the East Jerusalem YMCA, highlighted the unprecedented levels of frustration and trauma among Palestinian children in detention.
“Many feel unprotected in the face of ongoing injustices,” Nasir remarked, stressing the Christian duty to oppose such inequities.
The sentiment of abandonment by the international community was echoed by Rifat Kassis of Kairos Palestine, who voiced concerns about the displacement of Palestinians from their villages by Israeli actions.
In contrast, Michel Abs of the Middle East Council of Churches focused on the foundational love and hope that characterized the visit, portraying it as a gesture of solidarity from the global faith community.
Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, described the interactions as sobering, pointing out the severe humanitarian crises in the region.
“We can’t talk about their homes anymore—they left those long ago, and now they are just moving from place to place in the Gaza Strip… The level of human suffering is outrageous,” he said.
The gathering also served as a platform to reaffirm the call for peace based on international law, with WCC central committee member Audeh Quawas emphasizing the urgency to end violence against innocent people.
Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, WCC moderator, drew parallels between the current suffering and the despair experienced by Jesus Christ, urging for a renewal of faith and humanity amidst the crisis.
