Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news.
Middle East News
1. US launches new airstrikes on Iran, with Tehran firing back at 3 Gulf Arab states
AP News
"The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by hitting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Persian Gulf. The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz signaled the end of the fragile ceasefire. The U.S. struck a variety of military sites and port facilities early Wednesday following Iran’s targeting of several merchant vessels off the coast of Oman, sparking Iranian fire then as well."
2. Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee
AP News
"The Hamas militant group said Monday it had dissolved its government in Gaza and is preparing to transfer power to a technical committee backed by the United Nations as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Hamas did not say whether it planned to take the crucial step of disarming or handing over security to an international force, but described its decision as evidence of its commitment to Gaza’s reconstruction after years of war."
3. Israel kills one child per day on average in Gaza since the October ceasefire
France 24
"La Croix reports that, in Gaza, around 1,050 Palestinians have been killed since the so-called ceasefire on 10 October. According to the UN, 28% of the victims are children – an average of one young Gazan every day. The newspaper argues that the people of Gaza are 'disappearing from our radar,' largely because of the media restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities. Meanwhile, Le Monde highlights the plight of those who survive, many of them left with life-changing injuries. Citing the World Health Organisation, it notes that Gaza has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world, and examines the challenges they face during recovery."
4. Israel’s Smotrich declares ‘revolution’ in West Bank settlement expansion
Al Jazeera
"Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared that Israel has launched a 'revolution in settlement' expansion, which he says will see illegal outposts extended beyond the occupied West Bank into the Negev and Galilee. The far-right minister’s post on the social media platform X follows the Israeli cabinet’s recent approval to establish 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank. Those settlements, considered illegal under international law, will be situated in strategically critical parts of the West Bank, which Israeli officials say will help entrench their control over the occupied Palestinian territory."
5. Katz rejects Trump's claim that Israel will withdraw from Lebanon, confirms IDF will remain there
The Jerusalem Post
"Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected US President Donald Trump's Wednesday claim that Israel would withdraw from Lebanon, saying on Thursday that Israel would remain in the security zones for as long as was needed. 'We did not ask anyone's permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon,' Katz stated. He also stated that it was Israel's 'privilege and right' to protect its people from Hezbollah, and that IDF forces would maintain a presence in southern Lebanon until the terror group was completely disarmed and the threat had been fully removed."
6. Trump to remove Syria from US terrorism sponsor list
Reuters
"President Donald Trump on Wednesday informed his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa that he had decided to remove the country from the U.S. list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. 'I promised to remove all barriers stopping you from rebuilding your country, and very soon, you will finally be able to do so,' Trump wrote in a letter to Sharaa seen by Reuters. 'We have U.S. companies ready to invest in Syria and help make your country greater and more prosperous than ever before,' he added in the letter that a senior U.S. administration official said was handed to Sharaa after their meeting in Ankara on Wednesday."
7. Netanyahu claims Israel protects Christians after Israeli attacks hit churches in Lebanon
Middle East Eye
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in an interview with Fox News on Sunday that Christians in Lebanon had asked Israel to 'annex' their villages, many of which Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed. Speaking on the pro-Israel US news outlet with host Jacqui Heinrich on 'The Sunday Briefing,' Netanyahu said 'we…take care of our friends, especially the Christians in the Middle East.' 'Christian villages in Lebanon some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel because we protect them against Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them and we do the same things with Christians everywhere…in the Middle East,' said Netanyahu. But Netanyahu’s remarks sit uneasily beside Israel’s own record in Lebanon, where its forces have destroyed churches, damaged Christian religious sites and filmed soldiers desecrating Christian symbols."
8. West Bank parish priest calls for action to preserve Christian presence
Vatican News
"Taybeh, the last entirely Christian Palestinian village in the West Bank, is facing what its parish priest describes as an unprecedented threat to its land, its people and its historic Christian presence. After months of appeals over repeated violence targeting the village, Father Bashar Fawadleh says a new danger has emerged. According to eyewitnesses and local monitoring groups, Israeli settlers have begun constructing what is believed to be an illegal outpost in the Jabal Al-Massis area, a mountainous tract of land belonging to the village."
July 7, 2026: CMEP Press Release: Religious Leader Overcomes Personal Setbacks to Complete IRONMAN Competitions in Support of Peace in the Middle East
After over a year of determination, setbacks, and perseverance, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon's journey to complete a full IRONMAN has become a powerful testament to the hope that peace is possible. Inspired by CMEP's mission and fueled by a commitment to justice in the Middle East, Rev. Dr. Mae has continued training despite significant health challenges that forced her to postpone her original goal. As she prepares to compete in the Ohio Half IRONMAN in July 2026 and the full IRONMAN Maryland in September 2026, every mile she completes raises awareness and support for CMEP's work to advocate, educate, and elevate voices for peace. Join Mae on the final stretch of this remarkable journey and help turn perseverance into lasting change.
June 26, 2026: Written by CMEP: The Belhar Confession: Road Map to Unity, Reconciliation, and Justice
In this article published in Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of CMEP, reflects on the enduring significance of the Belhar Confession and what it can teach the church today. Drawing on both the confession's origins in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and her recent visit to the country, Rev. Dr. Cannon considers how its call to unity, reconciliation, and justice speaks to ongoing injustice in South Africa, Israel/Palestine, the United States, and beyond. As a result, Rev. Dr. Cannon encourages Christians to move beyond silence and bear faithful witness by standing with the oppressed, confronting injustice, and working for a just and lasting peace.
Blogging for Peace: Follow Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of CMEP, on Substack
Stay up to date with reflections from CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. Her Substack features updates on developments in Gaza and across the Middle East, commentary on U.S. policy, CMEP webinars and events, meeting transcripts, and reflections on faith, justice, and peace.
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.
We are not giving up on pursuing peace! And CMEP's executive director persists in pursuit of completing a 140.6 IronMan triathlon on behalf of Gaza. "Persistence is an essential quality for peace. I have learned that lesson again and again in life, and never more so than in my pursuit of a deeply personal and transformative journey — one that challenges me both physically and emotionally. Through my training for, and eventual completion of, an Ironman Triathlon, I aim to raise $140,600 to support a cause that is close to my heart: bringing freedom, justice, and peace to the Middle East."- Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of CMEP
July 15, 2026: Faithful Advocacy, Urgent Times: Middle East Policy Update
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET
On July 15th at 1PM EST join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and DC-based experts Sasha Ghosh-Siminoff (ELCA) & Josh Paul (A New Policy) for the latest updates from Capitol Hill relating to U.S. policies impacting Israel, Palestine, and the broader Middle East. Beyond providing the latest landscaping, speakers will also offer advocacy action steps and specific advice for outreach to congressional offices on key legislative priorities.
October 22, 2026: Peacebuilding Lessons from the Middle East
Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET
This moment in history is marked by profound brokenness and trauma affecting individuals, communities, and nations alike. In a world increasingly divided by conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, Christians from the region offer invaluable insights on resiliently living out one’s faith amidst adversity. Join Churches for Middle East Peace executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, for this course exploring the vibrant, living church in the Holy Land, with a focus on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories as they strive to deepen their relationship with God through their commitment to peace and justice within their communities. This workshop takes an interdisciplinary approach, interweaving history, practical theology, and contemporary ministry practices in peacebuilding. Participants will gain access to essential tools for spiritual formation and advocacy applicable in a variety of ministry settings. A central theme will be the transformative journey of learning to 'love one’s enemy,' even in the face of conflict and strife, ultimately equipping learners to apply these lessons in their own lives and ministries.
