 |  | January 30th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Israeli military accepts that 71,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza war for first time, says report The Independent "The Israeli military has for the first time accepted figures released by Gaza’s health ministry showing that more than 70,000 Palestinians were killed during its war in the territory, according to a report. DF sources told Haaretz that the death toll has now been accepted by military officials. The figures are regarded as reliable by humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations." | | | | | | 2. Boys collecting firewood in Gaza killed by Israeli fire CNN "Two Palestinian boys have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza while collecting firewood, according to their families. The boys were cousins: Mohammad and Suleiman Al Zawaraa. Mohammad was 14; Suleiman a year younger, according to hospital authorities. They were killed on Saturday morning and their bodies were taken to Al Shifa hospital. Video showed the distraught father of one of the boys cradling his body in his arms." | | | | | | 3. Israel says it has retrieved remains of final Gaza hostage BBC "The Israeli military says it has retrieved the body of the last hostage in Gaza, paving the way for the next phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan to get under way. It had been searching for Master Sgt Ran Gvili since the ceasefire with Hamas began in October." | | | | | | 4. Hezbollah says Israeli strike killed Al-Manar TV presenter in southern Lebanon Reuters "The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Monday that an Israeli strike in the country's south killed TV presenter Ali Nour al-Din, who worked for the group's affiliated Al-Manar television station. The group said the killing portends "the danger of Israel's extended escalations (in Lebanon) to include the media community". | | | | | | 5. Trump Says ‘Massive Armada’ Heading to Iran, Warns ‘Time Is Running Out’ to Make a Deal Time Magazine "President Donald Trump on Wednesday revived the threat of military action against Iran, declaring on social media that a “massive armada” of American forces was moving toward the country and warning “time is running out” for Tehran to agree to a deal limiting its nuclear program." | | | | | | 6. Mike Huckabee is interfering with the work and witness of churches in the Holy Land with a goal of silencing Palestinian Christians Mondoweiss "Last week, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, the leaders of the historic churches in the Holy Land, issued a momentous statement clearly expressing their rejection of Christian Zionism. The statement was remarkable not only for its clarity but also for the moment of its release and the response it provoked from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a vocal Christian Zionist. The episode highlights an emerging threat to the work and witness of the Palestinian church, as well as steps Christian Zionists are taking to erase our political voice." You can read the statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem on CMEP's website HERE. | | | | | | | | Holy Land Co-ordination: Stand with people of Holy Land, help foster dialogue Vatican News “The people of the Holy Land cry out for our help and prayers; they long for an end to their suffering. Stand with them. Recognise their plea for dignity. Help foster genuine dialogue between communities.” "This is the appeal launched by the Co-ordination of Bishops' Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land, better known as the Holy Land Co-ordination (HLC), in a communiqué released on Thursday, January 22." CMEP Head of Advocacy and Government Relations Kyle Cristofalo traveled to the Holy Land to be a part of this initiative. | | | | | | The Rise of Populism: Implications and Complications for International Religious Freedom Institute for Global Engagement In "The Rise of Populism: Implications and Complications for International Religious Freedom," published through the Institute for Global Engagement, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon shares the findings from her academic article, "Populism, Nationalism, and Civilizationism: Implications and Complications for Religious Freedom,” originally published in The Review of Faith and International Affairs. Writing for a broader audience, she examines how the global rise of populism, rooted in nationalism and civilizationalist rhetoric, threatens religious freedom and democratic pluralism. Drawing on global examples, the piece shows how privileging dominant religious identities fuels exclusion, sharpens “us versus them” politics, and undermines protections for religious minorities. | | | | | | Research on Religious Freedom and Security: What We Know—and Don’t Know Institute for Global Engagement This piece is written by CMEP AWCF Dr. Scott Gustafson "Religious freedom is more than a moral ideal. It is a measurable factor shaping national trajectories, social cohesion, and long-term peace. Religious freedom intersects in critical ways with issues of security, extremism, and terrorism. Contrary to secularization theories, religion is on the rise with 75% of the globe expressing some kind of religious affiliation. With this increase comes a challenge. " | | | | | | Still Active: ACTION ALERT "Block the Bombs Act" On May 21st, 2025, House Resolution 3565 was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as the "Block the Bombs Act." The resolution calls for a limit on the sale of bombs, ammunition (including white phosphorus), and ammunition manufacturing capability. The act comes as Israel has strengthened its assault on Gaza and the West Bank, with an estimated death toll since October 7th, 2023 standing at 54,000 Palestinian men, women, and children. Congress needs to pressure the Trump Administration to protect Palestinian civilians through the passage of HRes. 3565. Your voice can push your representative to support this vital resolution and limit offensive weapon capabilities of Israel, protecting Gazan civilians from relentless bombs. Contact your representative and urge them to support the initiative. This is Action Alert is still on going and currently has gathered support from 61 Co-Sponsors! | | | | | | | | Peacebuilding Lessons from the Middle East February 16, 23, March 2, 9, 2026 | Noon–2 PM
Instructor: The Rev’d Mae Elise Cannon, PhD, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
Offered at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale In a time of deep global division and conflict, this course invites participants to learn from the lived witness of Christians in the Middle East who embody faith, resilience, and hope amid adversity. Taught by the Rev’d Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), the course focuses on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, exploring how the church in the Holy Land seeks justice, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal in the face of ongoing struggle. Through an interdisciplinary blend of theology, history, and practical ministry, participants will engage in spiritual formation, examine models of conflict transformation, and gain tools for peacebuilding and advocacy. Together, we will explore what it means to “love one’s enemy” and move from apathy to action in the pursuit of justice and peace in the Middle East and in our own communities. | | | | | | Call to Prayer and Advocacy for Shadi Khoury On Sept, 8th 2025, after two years and eleven months of procrastination in the corridors of the occupation's courts, after an arrest accompanied by torture, Shadi's steadfastness during interrogation, a full year of house arrest, and thirty-seven consecutive court sessions, the judge issued his decision convicting Shadi. Sentencing has been pushed to February 15 at 8:50 a.m. We ask that you keep Shadi in your prayers and consider acts of advocacy. You can reach out to our congressional representatives and respectfully ask them to urge Israel to show leniency in Shadi's case. Please join us on Wednesdays 12:30pm EST as we pray for Shadi and all other affected by unjust violence. | | | | | | Thursday Weekly News Briefing
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 and ask questions at the end. Every Thursday from 10:30-11:15 am Eastern. | | | | | | | | Support CMEP’s Work for Peace
If you value the programs and advocacy efforts highlighted in the bulletin, we invite you to partner with us. Your generosity makes it possible for CMEP to continue hosting events, leading education initiatives, and amplifying voices for justice and peace in the Middle East. If you would like to support CMEP in expanding this important work, please consider making a donation today. Thank you for standing with us. | | | | | | | | | | | | Receive the Name of a Palestinian Child Alive Today and Lift them up
in Prayer and Advocacy "Let Children Live" More than two million children in Gaza and the West Bank live under brutal oppression, their lives too often reduced to statistics. Yet each child is beloved by God. The Let Children Live campaign invites you to receive the name of a Palestinian child alive today and lift them up in prayer and advocacy. Together, we can remind the world of their dignity, hope, and right to a future. Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and our global partners in this urgent call to stand with children who deserve to live and thrive. | | | | | | February 4, 2026: Rethinking Religious Freedom in a Fragmented and Digitalized World; Launch of a Special Issue of The Review of Faith & International Affairs This event marks the launch of a special issue of The Review of Faith & International Affairs that advances new conceptual and analytical approaches to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in an era of global crises spanning the geopolitical, technological, and cultural. Titled Religious Freedom Studies: The State of the Field and Recommendations for Future Research, the volume moves beyond narrow legal frameworks to explore how FoRB intersects with nationalism, populism, digital governance, racial and gender inequalities, and cultural heritage politics. The panel will bring together coeditors Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon and Jocelyne Cesari, Greg Mitchell, chair of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat, Dennis Hoover, editor-in-chief of The Review of Faith & International Affairs, and contributor Elizabeth Prodromou to discuss key themes from the special issue. Lunch will be provided. | | | | | | February 21, 2026: Spiritual Formation as a Justice and Practice Join us at 11 am for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and ordained pastor in the Reformed Church of America, hosted by The Institute for Justice Formation. This talk will focus on the connection of spiritual formation in the context of Middle East justice and moving from the abstract, individualized piety to active justice work. This event will take place virtually from 11 am-1 pm on February 21, 2026. | | | | | | Early Bird Tickets Out Now! May 5-7: Joint Christian Advocacy Summit 2026 Join CMEP and a broad coalition of co-sponsors May 5-7, 2026 as we converge in Washington, DC for a Joint Christian Advocacy Summit for the Middle East. Centered on the theme “Do Right; Seek Justice (Is. 1:17): Christians Uniting Against Oppression in Palestine/Israel,” this gathering will equip and mobilize Christian advocates from across the country in support of U.S. policies that uphold dignity, human rights, and lasting security for all who call the region home. Attendees will learn from experts, gain advocacy skills, and have the opportunity to meet with their congressional offices to call for a just peace in the Holy Land.
Early Bird Tickets are available until January 31st! | | | | | | Spring 2026 Solidarity Pilgrimage + Christ at the Checkpoint May 22 - May 31 Join Churches for Middle East Peace as we journey to Israel/Palestine in May 2026 for a solidarity pilgrimage. This trip will highlight the spiritual significance of the land, the role of local Christians in shaping the region’s past and present, and opportunities to meet with religious, academic, and non-profit leaders working toward peace and justice in the land. Alongside visits to sacred sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, the itinerary includes participation in the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference, offering an opportunity to hear from Palestinian Christian leaders and global advocates committed to justice, reconciliation, and nonviolence. | | | | | | The Voice of Hind Rajab - Day of Remembrance & Action Today, we’re joining communities around the world in remembering Hind Rajab and the at least 20,000 children killed in Gaza since October 2023. Her final hours should never be forgotten. We honor her life by bearing witness and demanding immediate humanitarian and medical access into Gaza. The children of Gaza deserve better from us.
On January 29, 2024, Red Crescent volunteers received an emergency call. A 5-year-old girl trapped in a car under fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue. While trying to keep her on the line, they did everything they could to get an ambulance to her. Her name was Hind Rajab. Blending real emergency call recordings with narrative story structure, the film follows the Red Crescent dispatchers who fight against time and impossible barriers to reach her. | | | | | | | | | | Join CMEP from January 18–25, 2026 for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity On January 20th, 2026 CMEP held its first event for the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" together with Save the ArQ co-founder Hagop Djernazian. This event focused on the Armenian Community in the Holy Land and included a deep dive into the community's history as well as the issues facing them today, including the ongoing court cases surrounding the "Cows Garden" land lease. You can watch the recording on YouTube below. | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
