 |  | August 29th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza WHO "More than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine, marked by widespread starvation, destitution and preventable deaths, according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released today. Famine conditions are projected to spread from Gaza Governorate to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis Governorates in the coming weeks." | | | | | | 2. AP freelancer among 5 journalists killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital, health officials say AP "Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza killed five journalists Monday, according to health officials, including one who days earlier had reported for The Associated Press on children being treated for starvation at the same facility. Two strikes hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in quick succession, medical officials said. In videos, journalists and rescue workers can be seen rushing to the scene of the first one, before a massive explosion hits an exterior staircase where journalists are often stationed. In all, 20 people were killed, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department." | | | | | | 3. Israeli bombardment kills 10 in Yemen’s Sanaa after Houthi attacks Al-Jazeera "The Israeli military has bombed the Yemeni capital Sanaa, Israeli and Yemeni officials say, as tensions in the region continue to escalate amid Israel’s war on Gaza. The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV said the attack on Sunday targeted an oil facility and a power plant in Sanaa. Israel said it also targeted a presidential palace in the Yemeni capital, which it claimed is located on a “military complex”. | | | | | | 4. Israeli strikes kill six Syrian troops, Syria says BBC "Israeli drone strikes near Damascus have killed six Syrian soldiers, Syria's government said, among a series of reported attacks this week. Syria's foreign ministry condemned Tuesday's strike as a violation of international law and a breach of its sovereignty. After more strikes on Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out an airborne landing at a former military site in the area, international and Syrian state media report. Reports differ on what forces did and how long they stayed for." | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | August 25, 2025: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Statement on UN Declaration of Famine in Gaza Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) laments the famine conditions in Gaza and uplifts the UN official declaration of famine announced on Friday, August 22, 2025. This is not a natural disaster; this famine is entirely man-made. It is the direct result of the Israeli government’s systematic restriction of humanitarian aid, a policy that amounts to the deliberate starvation of a civilian population. Friday’s famine confirmation shows the world has failed to act. | | | | | | August 26, 2025: Joint Statement: The Latest Planned Israeli Military Offensive in Gaza City Must Be Halted Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) joined twenty church-based organizations in calling for Israel to halt its planned military offensive in Gaza City. With famine already declared in Gaza, further military operations will only cause further suffering and death for a civilian population without anywhere else to go. As the letter reads, “this displacement will result in a modern-day death march that is clearly intended to ethnically cleanse half of the Gaza Strip and compress all of Gaza’s population into a tiny sliver of territory incapable of sustaining life.” The letter calls on all parties, including the United States, to use all leverage available to call upon the Israeli government to reverse its plans for a military offensive in Gaza City and to instead pursue a durable and lasting ceasefire. | | | | | | August 27, 2025: Churches for Middle East Peace Elevates the Joint Statement by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Churches for Middle East Peace affirms the joint statement from the Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchates of Jerusalem as a cry from the heart of the Christian community in the Holy Land, a prophetic voice of truth spoken amid unbearable suffering. Their words remind us that what is unfolding in Gaza is not an abstraction, but the lived reality of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children, including the faithful who have sought refuge within the very walls of the Church. The Patriarchates’ declaration that there can be “no future based on captivity, displacement of Palestinians or revenge” is both a moral compass and a summons to the global conscience. | | | | | | | | 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. Tickets are expected to sell out! Get yours now, using the promo code "CMEP" you'll be eligible for a small discount! | | | | | | 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 26, 2025: CMEP Webinar: Where is Syria Now?
Join CMEP on September 26th at 6:00 PM for a webinar about Syria. The webinar will cover 3 topics of present-day Syria. We will hear from Rachel Nelson about the Jewish community in Syria, as well as Israel's ongoing occupation of Southern Syria coupled with the ongoing clashes in Suwayda. Tony Alkhoury will talk to us about the Christian community as well as the role of the Syrian Churches in crisis, where do things stand now? Finally, CMEP Board member Sasha Gosh-Siminoff will inform us about aid and development as well as the lack of a transitional justice system aimed at holding all perpetrators accountable. | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | Destiny Magnett Guest Sermon at First Moravian Church (Dover, OH) Join CMEP programs and outreach manager, Destiny Magnett, for a special guest sermon at First Moravian Church (Dover, OH) on Sunday, September 21st. Destiny will share a message that uses scripture to help us understand how to respond faithfully, through Christian witness, to all that's happening in the Holy Land. The service will also be livestreamed. Following the service, Destiny will join worshippers for Q&A and casual conversation during coffee hour. | | | | | | Kyle Cristofalo at National United Methodist Church (Washington, DC) On Sunday, September 21st, join CMEP senior director of advocacy and government relations, Kyle Cristofalo, for a special adult education session "Faithful Approaches for Seeking a Just Peace in Palestine and the Broader Middle East" at National United Methodist Church. Kyle will share updates from the ground, give an overview of the work of Churches for Middle East Peace, and seek to answer the question– what are the responsibilities and opportunities the church has to engage faithfully around seeking just peace in Palestine and the broader Middle East? including practical steps we can take for faithful advocacy in DC and beyond. | | | | | | "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 Fair 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 | | | | | | | | 5. Majority of Americans disapprove of US-Israel military alliance, new poll shows Politico "Americans are less approving of U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas than at any point since the Israel-Hamas war began, a new poll released Wednesday shows. A Quinnipiac University survey found 60 percent of voters disapprove of the U.S. sending military aid to Israel, while 32 percent support additional aid — the highest level of opposition and lowest level of support for the U.S. military alliance with Israel in a Quinnipiac poll since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks against Israel by Hamas." | | | | | | 6. Scoop: Tony Blair and Jared Kushner brief Trump on Gaza post-war plans Axios "Tony Blair and Jared Kushner participated in a meeting on Gaza at the White House on Wednesday and presented President Trump with ideas for a post-war plan, two sources with knowledge tell Axios." | | | | | | 7. Israeli protesters push harder for hostage deal as divide with Netanyahu deepens CNN "Worlds away from the public outrage and cries of protest echoing through Tel Aviv’s packed streets on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu beamed from the podium in Jerusalem, his words greeted with laughter and applause. The contrast was unmistakable. In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of protesters demanded a ceasefire and the return of the hostages held in Gaza. In Jerusalem, Netanyahu spoke of “the unity of the people.” | | | | | | 8. Priests and nuns in Gaza City defy Israel’s evacuation orders and vow to stay: ‘We have nowhere else to go.’ America Magazine "The priests and nuns who are caring for those living in the Orthodox and Catholic compounds in Gaza City will remain despite Israel’s orders to evacuate, the Greek Orthodox and Latin patriarchs of Jerusalem said in a statement issued today, Tuesday, Aug. 26." | | | | | | 9. Calls grow to release US teen Mohammed Ibrahim detained by Israel Al-Jazeera "Mohammed Ibrahim is just a normal kid who loves his family and likes photography, his relatives say. But the Palestinian American teenager spent his 16th birthday this past March in an Israeli jail, despite protests pleading for his release. His father, Zaher Ibrahim, believes the United States government can free Mohammed and end his ordeal with a single phone call, given the billions of dollars in military aid it sends Israel each year." | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
