January 24th News Bulletin

In the urban Jabaliya refugee camp in Northern Gaza, residents returned to find their homes reduced to rubble. (Production by Wafaa Shurafa)

Middle East latest: Released Israeli hostage says she has ‘returned to life’

AP News

"One of the Israeli hostages freed on the first day of the Gaza ceasefire said Monday in her first comments since being released that she has “returned to life.” Emily Damari, 28, was one of three hostages freed Sunday after spending 471 days in captivity. Officials at a hospital that received them said their condition was stable. In an Instagram story, which was shared by Israeli media, Damari thanked her family and the large protest movement that coalesced to advocate for the release of the hostages. “Thank you thank you thank you I’m the happiest in the world,” she said."

Palestinian prisoners wave from a Red Cross bus as they are driven out of Israel's Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank.John Wessels / AFP - Getty Images.

Palestinians celebrate release of 90 prisoners and detainees held by Israel in first phase of ceasefire deal

NBC

“Tears, cheers and celebrations greeted 90 Palestinian women and children released as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas just after midnight on Monday. Families and onlookers waited for hours in the cold to greet their loved before white buses transported them out of Ofer Prison, an Israeli facility in the occupied West Bank. A celebratory mood coursed through the crowd, with some families sharing food and cotton candy being sold on the street."

Israeli military vehicles drive on the street during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, on January 21, 2025. Raneen Sawafta/Reuters.

As fighting in Gaza stops, Israel launches major military campaign in West Bank

CNN

“The Israeli military killed at least 10 Palestinians, including a child, in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday as its prime minister announced the start of a “large-scale military operation” in the restive city of Jenin – just two days after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect. Israel’s security cabinet launched the military offensive – which involved the Israeli military, police and Shin Bet security agency – to “eradicate terrorism in Jenin,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The operation is called “Iron Wall,” he said.”

Palestinians sit next to a fire, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, January 22, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo.

Gazans ready tent camps for families returning to north after ceasefire

BBC

“The area in Gaza which Israel's military has told people to go to "for their safety" has been hit by 97 strikes since May, BBC Verify analysis has revealed.The findings come as negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to be nearing a breakthrough. Mediators in Qatar say talks are in their final stages, raising hopes that an agreement could be reached soon.”

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Calls for Deescalation, Demilitarization, and Support of Permanent Ceasefire and Lasting Peace between Israel and Hamas and in the broader Middle East

The inauguration of President Trump marked the beginning of his administration, with promises of peace and unity in his inaugural speech. However, his initial actions, such as lifting sanctions on Israeli settlers and reintroducing heavy weaponry to conflict zones, contradict these commitments, prioritizing militarization over diplomacy. CMEP urges the Trump Administration to uphold the Gaza ceasefire, promote justice, and address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through non-violent means. CMEP also highlights ongoing violence in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon, calling for accountability and the protection of innocent lives amid escalating tensions and violations of ceasefire agreements.

Illustration by Joanna Andreasson for New Lines Magazine.

Featuring CMEP: MAGA Zionism and Its Discontents

New Lines Magazine

The article "MAGA Zionism and Its Discontents" explores the evolving perspectives within the American Christian community regarding U.S. support for Israel, particularly in light of the recent conflict in Gaza. It highlights a growing faction of "America First" Christians who are increasingly critical of Israel's actions and are reevaluating their support for former President Donald Trump due to his unwavering backing of Israel. Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, an American historian and director of Churches for Middle East Peace, emphasizes how the discourse about Israel in the U.S. has become more nuanced and multifaceted, particularly within left-leaning and progressive communities but also among some conservative supporters of Trump. She notes that even staunch advocates of U.S. military aid to Israel are questioning the proportionality of civilian casualties and destruction, reflecting a shift in the broader narrative.

This year, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and author and ethicist Andrew DeCort, PhD, for a series of prayerful reflections on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). From January 18-25th, Andrew will be joined each day at 12:00 EST by a different renowned guest to reflect on one of the beatitudes and pray for a just peace for the Middle East.

Speakers will include:

January 18th: Sister Susan Nchibiri, Maryknoll Office of Global Concern

January 19th: Shireen Awwad Hilal, Bethlehem Bible College

January 20th: Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Christmas Lutheran Church (Bethlehem, Palestine) & the ELCJHL

January 22nd: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel A. W. Adishian, Armenian-American priest, scholar, and speaker

January 23rd: Tony Amoury Alhoury, Syrian-born Christian theologian and educator

January 24th: Abouna Imad Haddad, Good Shepherd Church (Amman, Jordan) and ELCJHL

January 25th: Rev. Ashraf Tannous, Palestinian Reverand and Head of the ELCJHL’s Ecclesiastical Court

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed each year as an opportunity to explore Christians' shared heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all us all. This year's overarching global theme, "Do You Believe?" (John 11:26) offers a way to see that faith is not just a static set of beliefs, but an active means of receiving grace.

As the World Council of Churches explains, 2025 also marks the 1700th anniversary of the first Christian Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea, near Constantinople in 325 AD. This commemoration provides a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians, as expressed in the creed formulated during this council.

If you want to watch the recordings of any speakers you may have missed, their recording is available at the link below!

CMEP's 2025 Advocacy Summit Washington, D.C. March 19-20, 2025

Join Churches for Middle East Peace in Washington, DC at our annual Advocacy Summit March 19-20th, 2025. Day one of the summit, Wednesday, March 19th will include remarks from several expert speakers, updates from CMEP staff, and advocacy training. On Day Two, Thursday, March 20th, you will have the opportunity to put all you've learned into action on Capitol Hill, as you meet with the offices of your senators and representatives. 
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent" (Acts 18:9)
This year, our Advocacy Summit recognizes the tremendous work our constituents and coalitions have done to speak out for justice and calls upon each of us to "keep on speaking" and working for a just peace for all people in the Holy Land. 

CMEP Wednesday Prayers for Peace

Churches for Middle East Peace invites you to pray for peace in light of recent events in Gaza, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. Every Wednesday, 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Eastern via Zoom.

 Live Thursday News Briefings

Please join us on Zoom for a weekly briefing on current news regarding the Hamas and Israel War. Hear from CMEP Staff and other experts. Every Thursday 10:00 am - 10:30 am Eastern. You can watch the most recent live briefing from January 16 concerning the ceasefire agreement HERE. If you want to see more of these be sure to attend live every Thursday!

Lina al-Dabah shows a picture of her daughter Aya.

'My daughter's bones were scattered on the ground' - the harrowing search for the missing of Gaza

BBC News

"Since the Israeli occupation forces withdrew from Rafah, we have had about 150 calls from civilians about the presence of their relatives' bodies under houses," says Haitham al-Homs, director of Emergency and Ambulance Services for the Civil Defence agency in Rafah, at the southernmost end of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian health authorities estimate that 10,000 people are missing. Where there is no obvious marker like clothing at the surface, the search teams rely on information from relatives and neighbours, or they follow the smell of death that radiates from the ruins.” 

This is a locator map for Yemen with its Capital Sanaa (AP Photo).

Yemen’s Houthi rebels release crew of commercial vessel seized in Red Sea in November 2023

AP News

“Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier seized in November 2023 at the start of their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. The move by the Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza. However, it came as U.S. President Donald Trump moved to reinstate a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his first term that had been revoked by President Joe Biden, potentially setting the stage for new tensions with the rebels.”

Israeli military vehicles in Nabatieh, Lebanon, on 21 January. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images.

Israel will not withdraw troops from Lebanon by deadline, Netanyahu says

Reuters

"Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israeli troops will not comply with a Sunday deadline for them to withdraw from southern Lebanon, throwing the ceasefire with Hezbollah into crisis. Confirming that Israel would not meet the 26 January deadline, the prime minister’s office said in a statement: “The IDF’s withdrawal process is conditional on the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon and fully and effectively enforcing the agreement, while Hezbollah withdraws beyond the Litani [River].”

Syrian police members attend their graduation ceremony, after the ouster of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, at the Police Academy under the Syrian Salvation Government, in Damascus, Syria January 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo.

Syria's new leaders turn to Islamic law in effort to rebuild Assad's police

Reuters

"Syria's new authorities are using Islamic teachings to train a fledgling police force, a move officers say aims to instil a sense of morality as they race to fill a security vacuum after dismantling ousted president Bashar al-Assad's notoriously corrupt and brutal security forces. Police they brought into Damascus from their former rebel enclave in the northwestern region of Idlib are asking applicants about their beliefs and focusing on Islamic sharia law in the brief training they offer recruits, according to five senior officers and application forms seen by Reuters."

Contact Us

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222  info@cmep.org