 |  | August 15th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Malnourished kids arrive daily at a Gaza hospital as Netanyahu denies hunger PBS "The dead body of 2 1/2-year-old Ro’a Mashi lay on the table in Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, her arms and rib cage skeletal, her eyes sunken in her skull. Doctors say she had no preexisting conditions and wasted away over months as her family struggled to find food and treatment." | | | | | | 2. UN condemns targeted Israeli attack that killed four Al Jazeera journalists BBC "The UN's human rights office has condemned a targeted Israeli attack that killed six journalists in Gaza, calling it a grave breach of international law. Four Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Three others were killed, including two freelance journalist, the broadcaster said." | | | | | | 3. Israel still blocking supplies into Gaza, aid organisations claim The Times "Israel has prevented major aid organisations from delivering millions of dollars’ worth of supplies into Gaza, prominent charities have claimed, saying they have been prevented from delivering a single truckload in half a year. More than 100 global NGOs, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders and Care, signed a statement claiming that Israel had rejected requests to bring in essential and lifesaving supplies, with over 60 denials in July alone." CMEP was one of the signatories. You can read the full statement HERE. | | | | | | 4. Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Albanese says AP "Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signaling they would do so. His remarks followed weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia to recognize a Palestinian state and amid growing criticism from officials in his government over suffering in Gaza, which Albanese on Monday referred to as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” | | | | | | 5. Germany halts export to Israel of arms that could be used in Gaza as global outcry grows The Guardian "The German chancellor has indicated a significant shift in Berlin’s staunch support for Israel by stopping the export of military equipment that could be used in Gaza, as international partners condemned Israeli plans to take control of Gaza City. Friedrich Merz issued a sharply worded statement signalling the reversal after several weeks of openly criticising Israel’s “unclear” policy goals in Gaza and the unfolding humanitarian disaster there but stopping short of concrete consequences in policy." | | | | | | | | July 10, 2025: 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. | | | | | | | | Aug 12, 2025: Statement: Churches for Middle East Peace Opposes the Israeli Plan to Occupy Gaza City Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) strongly condemns reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is advancing plans for a full military takeover of Gaza City. Such an operation would deepen an already unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, devastate what remains of civilian life in northern Gaza, and place the remaining hostages in grave danger. | | | | | | August 14, 2025: Joint Statement: Gaza: Israel threatens to ban major aid organizations as starvation deepens Together with more than 100 organizations, CMEP is calling for an end to Israel’s weaponization of aid. Despite claims by Israeli authorities that there is no limit on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, most major international NGOs have been unable to deliver a single truck of lifesaving supplies since 2 March. | | | | | | August 13, 2025: From CMEP's Own: The Culmination of the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine In an article for "Unbound," Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), and Ron Shive, a CMEP Regional Coordinator, wrote that while many worry about the dwindling Christian presence in the Holy Land, an even graver reality looms: the potential erasure of Palestine itself. Decades of settler colonialism, displacement, and military occupation, now culminating in mass killings, forced expulsions, and starvation in Gaza, have brought Palestinians closer than ever to complete dispossession, a crisis the international community must act urgently to prevent. | | | | | | | | Your Next Read: Transcript: Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos’ Interview on The Tucker Carlson Show Read the full transcript of US-born Russian Orthodox nun Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos’ interview on The Tucker Carlson Show titled “Here’s What It’s Really Like to Live as a Christian in the Holy Land”, premiered on August 11, 2025. | | | | | | | | | | September 11-13: Church at the Crossroads 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. | | | | | | September 16, 2025: You're Invited! From Ararat to the World
A Gala Celebrating the Launch of CMEP’s Armenian Advisory Council Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6:30 PM at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City for an unforgettable evening celebrating the launch of CMEP’s Armenian Advisory Council. This new initiative aims to strengthen engagement with Armenian communities, advocate for human rights, and support the Christian presence across the Middle East. This elegant gala will bring together ecumenical leaders, civic advocates, and philanthropic partners for a night of culture, connection, and shared purpose. Guests will enjoy a curated dinner and wine service inspired by Armenian traditions, a silent auction featuring handmade artisan goods from Armenian workshops in Jerusalem, live music, and thoughtful reflections from distinguished speakers. The evening will feature remarks from His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, and Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. Your participation will help shape this new chapter of Armenian advocacy and honor a legacy of resilience and faith that extends from Ararat to the world. | | | | | | | | September 1st: Monthly Morning Prayer On September 1st, ahead of Church at the Crossroads (CATX), join CMEP’s Destiny Magnett and fellow CATX organizers Daniel Bannoura, Crystal Silvia-McCormick, and Tony Deik as guests for Red Letter Christians Monthly Morning Prayer. The Red Letter Christians community is dedicated to coming together on the first of every month to center ourselves on Christ through prayer. Striving to build God’s Beloved Community here in our time is tough work, but we use this time to refuel and recommit to living into God’s plan for our lives. We welcome guests and co-conspiring organizations to join us for this time of reflection and centering to share news of their work, reflect on the political moment of our world, or guide us in prayer alongside Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. | | | | | | "Peace by Piece" 2025 Speaking Tour Fall "Peace by Piece" Tour Cities Announced!Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is excited to announce our Fall 2025 “Peace by Piece” Tour coming to your area in Fall 2025 in collaboration with the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA)! We invite you to host a meaningful event in your community centered around peacebuilding, economic justice, and advocacy related to Israel-Palestine. In collaboration with Bethlehem Free Trade Artisans, this program offers a unique opportunity to support Christian-led Palestinian craftspeople while fostering dialogue about paths toward peace and justice in the Holy Land. Our tour will visit select U.S. communities, featuring both a CMEP representative and a BFTA leader from Bethlehem who will share firsthand experiences about daily life, creative resilience, and hopes for peace. This initiative is particularly timely as communities in the region continue to recover from recent violence and conflict. Our presentations will incorporate the most current insights from our team's recent visits to the region, including perspectives from diverse communities affected by ongoing tensions.
Reach out to destiny@cmep.org for more information
Planned Tour Stops: New York-- New Jersey-- Delaware-- Washington DC-- Illinois-- Minnesota-- Michigan | | | | | | | | 6. Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan shake hands and sign deal at White House peace summit AP "The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan shook hands Friday at a White House peace summit before signing an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict. President Donald Trump was in the middle as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan flanked him on either side. As the two extended their arms in front of Trump to shake hands, the U.S. leader reached up and clasped his hands around theirs." | | | | | | 7. Vatican ties with Azerbaijan under fire amid accusations of cultural genocide RNS "As President Donald Trump hosts peace talks this week with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, two former Soviet states that have been in conflict for decades, Armenian activists continue to raise the alarm about the Vatican’s growing financial ties with Azerbaijan. They say the relationship is part of Azerbaijan’s broader effort to use its oil wealth to deflect criticism of human rights abuses and religious freedom violations." | | | | | | 8. Death and mourning in Gaza’s real-life Squid Game We Are Not Numbers "Do you know the television series “Squid Game,” in which people run while being shot at? Our family was told that Mustafa was running so fast it was as if he had seen his death there and rushed toward it. People called out to him, but he didn’t respond—he just kept running until he was hit by one bullet and then another, until a ninth bullet struck him and a bomb exploded, martyring him. All this brutality just because he was running to get some food." | | | | | | 9. Buttigieg discovers Dems’ 2028 litmus test: Israel Politico "Pete Buttigieg once had a ready answer about the U.S.-Israel relationship, likening it to a “friendship” in which you “try to guide them to a better place.” It’s a line that used to go over well with the “Pod Save America” guys, who once clapped for and nodded along with it on stage back in 2019. But this week they no longer did." | | | | | | 10. Jerusalem Municipality freezes Patriarchate of Jerusalem bank accounts over tax dispute Orthodox Times "On Wednesday, August 6, the Jerusalem Municipality unilaterally decided to freeze the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s bank account. It is our understanding that the reasoning behind this decision is related to the issue of Arnona,” or property tax, the group’s statement said. The dispute between the municipality and several churches that hold property in Jerusalem has been ongoing for years. For decades, an agreement between the churches and the State of Israel had prevented the city from collecting property tax from Christian institutions." | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
