 |  | June 13th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Israel hits Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership in unprecedented strikes CNN "Israel struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear, missile and military complex early Friday, in an unprecedented attack that has killed several of Iran’s most powerful figures and plunges the wider Middle East into dangerous new territory. The strikes on Iran’s nuclear program and senior military leaders could be a turning point in the long-running conflict, with Israel braced for a major Iranian retaliation – and the threat of a wider regional war breaking out now a real risk." | | | | | | 2. Rate of Gaza children suffering acute malnutrition nearly triples, survey shows Reuters “The rate of young children suffering from acute malnutrition in Gaza has nearly tripled since a ceasefire earlier this year when aid flowed more freely, according to data collected by humanitarian groups and released by the U.N. on Thursday. The report was issued at a time when aid distribution in the Palestinian enclave is under intense scrutiny because of deadly shootings close to the operations of a new U.S.-backed system.” | | | | | | 3. Dozens of Palestinians killed while seeking aid in Gaza, hospitals say BBC "Dozens of Palestinians have been killed as they tried to access aid in Gaza, hospitals say. Two hospitals in Gaza City said 25 people were killed overnight, near a convoy transporting flour and a food distribution site run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the area of the Netzarim corridor, an Israeli military zone. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said Israeli forces opened fire. There are also reports of people being crushed by lorries and being shot by Palestinians. Israel's military said troops fired warning shots as suspects approached them. Another 14 people were killed by Israeli fire near a GHF site in Rafah, in the south, a hospital in Khan Younis said." | | | | | | 4. Exclusive: US slams UN conference on Israel-Palestinian issue, warns of consequences Reuters "U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is discouraging governments around the world from attending a U.N. conference next week on a possible two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, according to a U.S. cable seen by Reuters. The diplomatic demarche, sent on Tuesday, says countries that take "anti-Israel actions" following the conference will be viewed as acting in opposition to U.S. foreign policy interests and could face diplomatic consequences from Washington." | | | | | | | | June 13, 2025: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Condemns Israeli Strikes Against Iran and Urges De-escalation of Regional Aggression
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) denounces Israel’s attacks on Iran as unlawful and deeply destabilizing, warning that continued military escalation threatens millions across the Middle East. CMEP calls for an immediate ceasefire, accountability for violations of international law, and a renewed global commitment to peace and human dignity for all in the region. | | | | | | June 10, 2025: ACTION ALERT "Gaza Humanitarian Aid" On June 4th, 2025, House Resolution 473 was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives calling for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. The resolution calls for the Trump Administration to use the diplomatic tools at its disposal to end the war, resume humanitarian aid, and return Israeli hostages. The resolution comes as Gaza faces imminent famine and collapsing healthcare infrastructure. Congress needs to pressure the Trump Administration to protect Palestinian civilians through the passage of HRes. 473. Your voice can push your representative to support this vital resolution and combat acute malnutrition, chronic food insecurity, and food and medicine shortages. Contact your representative and urge them to support the initiative. | | | | | | Beyond Horizons: Racing for Liberation Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) presents Beyond Horizons: Racing for Liberation, a bold fundraising journey led by Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. As she trains for and completes a full Ironman Triathlon—140.6 miles of swimming, biking, and running—Rev. Dr. Cannon aims to raise $1000 per mile for a total of $140,600 in support of peace, justice, and liberation in the Middle East. All funds raised will support the work of Churches for Middle East Peace, an organization Rev. Dr. Cannon has had the privilege of leading for over 8 years. For over 40 years, CMEP has been advocating, educating, and elevating voices in the Middle East, with the steadfast belief that peace is possible, and justice will prevail when we work together. We invite you to donate $70.30—just $1 for every mile of last weeks race—to stand with Rev. Dr. Cannon and support the transformative work of CMEP. Your gift will not only encourage Rev. Dr. Cannon through this physical and spiritual challenge but will also directly support CMEP’s mission to bring peace and justice to a region that so desperately needs it. | | | | | | | | May 30, 2025: ACTION ALERT "Letters for Gaza" Join Churches for Middle East Peace "Letters for Gaza" action alert. "Letters for Gaza" is a U.S. coalition-led campaign mobilizing thousands of citizens nationwide to urge their members of Congress to support full, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and an immediate halt to the bombardment of civilians. Members of Congress have the power to pressure the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools to lift the blockade and push for a permanent ceasefire. YOU have the power to influence your representatives and urge them to stand firm. Handwritten letters move members of Congress in ways that other forms of advocacy don’t. That's why we're asking you to take one simple but powerful action: Write one handwritten letter to your member of Congress — and ask a friend to do the same. | | | | | | June 16, 2025: Fast for Freedom: A Joint Day of Fasting for Gaza Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has partnered with a dozen groups to launch the June 16th Fast for Gaza Campaign alongside the June 15th Letters for Gaza Flooding of Congressional Mailboxes. CMEP encourages supporters to join the one-day international solidarity fast in response to the imminent starvation in Gaza. As the Christian faith demands, bear witness to the atrocities in Gaza and pray for peace and justice while engaging in a Holy Fast. Find detailed instructions below. | | | | | | | | June 15, 2025: Call to Prayer for Layan Nasir Pray for 25 year old Palestinian Christian Layan Nasir as her arbitrary detainment by Israeli authorities continues. Last year, she spent over 8 months in prison without charge or trial after being abducted at gunpoint from her home. Layan Nasir's case is just one of over 3,000 "administrative detention" cases in which Israeli prisons arbitrarily detain Palestinians without evidence. Layan was released in December but awaits trial. Please join us in prayers for Layan's freedom, a quick and fair trial, an end to the practice of administrative detention, and peace and justice for those facing persecution. | | | | | | From CMEP's Own: Why I Am Not a Christian Zionist "Those in power want our silence. Silence enables them to continue to shape culture and consciousness and reinforce uncomplicated narratives and binaries over nuanced understandings of the world. I am not a Christian Zionist, because I cannot be complicit in these systems anymore. This decision is grounded deeply in my faith. I believe God calls us to love one another (John 13:34) without exception. I believe the life of Jesus calls us to act courageously on behalf of the oppressed and disinherited. (Isaiah 1:17) I believe we each have a role to play in this urgent work. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) May it be so." This piece was written by Destiny Magnett, the programs and outreach manager of Churches for Middle East Peace | | | | | | | | | | July 06, 2025: Destiny Magnett Guest Sermon at Second Unitarian Church On Sunday, July 6th, join Churches for Middle East Peace’s Destiny Magnett for a special guest sermon at Second Unitarian Church (Omaha, NE). Destiny’s sermon will explore the call to advocate for peace and justice in the Middle East. Second Unitarian provides opportunities to join worship both online and in-person. | | | | July 13, 2025: Destiny Magnett Guest Sermon at Rock Spring UCC Join CMEP’s outreach manager, Destiny Magnett, at Rock Spring UCC where she will be delivering a guest sermon on July 13th. Rock Spring is a longtime church partner of CMEP and we look forward to worshipping alongside them on this special Sunday. Join us in-person at Rock Spring (5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207) or via livestream at 10:00 AM ET. | | | | | | Church at the Crossroads September 11-13 Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and faithful witnesses from across the country for Church at the Crossroads, a national gathering of Christians who recognize that the church stands at a defining moment–Jesus is urgently calling us back to the narrow way of the cross. As violence escalates in Israel and Palestine, and some in the Church use Scripture to justify war, occupation, or silence, we must ask: Have we traded the gospel of peace for the false promises of security and comfort?
Rooted in Scripture and led by Palestinian Christian leaders, including CMEP executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon—alongside pastors and peacemakers from across North America—this conference invites American Christians to engage in honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action. Through worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship, we are called to repentance, renewal, and courageous discipleship. This is a space to confront harmful theologies, rediscover the gospel of the Kingdom, and stand with all who seek justice in the land. | | | | | | | | 5. France says Palestinian Authority makes ‘unprecedented commitments’ to reform ahead of conference on statehood CNN "France said it has received a letter from the Palestinian Authority that contains “concrete and unprecedented commitments” to reform as Paris prepares to co-chair a conference on Palestinian statehood in New York. The letter, which France said was signed by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, includes condemnation of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, a call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages, and pledges to hold elections and reform the authority, according to excerpts shared with CNN.” | | | | | | 6. Israeli navy attacks rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeida, a first in the conflict AP "Israel’s navy attacked docks in Yemen’s rebel-held port city of Hodeida on Tuesday, launching its first seaborne assault against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels while warning more could come. The attack on Hodeida likely damaged facilities that are key to aid shipments to the hungry, war-wracked nation, but also have allegedly been used for weapons smuggling as vessels reportedly bypass United Nations inspectors. Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past — including an American attack that killed 74 people in April — but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel over its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip." | | | | | | 7. Scoop: Netanyahu asks U.S. to broker Israel-Syria negotiations Axios "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. envoy Tom Barrack he's interested in negotiating with the new Syrian government, with the U.S. serving as mediator, two Israeli officials said. Why it matters: Netanyahu is interested in negotiating an updated security deal and working up towards a full peace agreement, according to a senior Israeli official. These would be the first such talks between Israel and Syria since 2011, and would be particularly remarkable given recent history. The big picture: When former Islamist militant Ahmad al-Sharaa swept the Assad regime from power, Israel responded with waves of airstrikes that systematically destroyed what was left of the Syrian air force, navy, air defense and missile systems." | | | | | | 8. Israel deports activist Greta Thunberg after military seized Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship CBS News "Israel deported activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday, the country's Foreign Ministry said, a day after the Gaza-bound ship she was on with 11 other people was seized by the Israeli military. Thunberg left on a flight to France and was then headed to her home country of Sweden, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. It posted a photo of Thunberg, a climate activist who shuns air travel, seated on a plane. Thunberg was one of 12 passengers on the Madleen, a ship carrying aid to Gaza with a mission to protest Israel's ongoing war there and shed light on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, according to the organizers, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition." | | | | | | 9. Harvard appears to think all Jews support Israel. That is discriminatory The Guardian "We are part of a group of 27 Jewish scholars of Jewish studies who have filed an amicus brief in Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. We submitted the brief, drafted by the civil rights attorney Yaman Salahi, because we support the university’s fight against government overreach. Yet in doing so, the institution has committed a different kind of discrimination – one that violates federal civil rights law. We reject Harvard’s troubling assumption that being Jewish necessitates supporting Israel, or that criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza constitutes antisemitism." | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
