 |  | September 5th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Israeli military says it controls 40% of Gaza City, plans to expand operation in coming days Reuters "Israel controls 40% of Gaza City, a military spokesperson said on Thursday, as its bombardment forced more Palestinians from their homes there, while thousands of residents defied Israeli orders to leave, remaining behind in the ruins in the path of Israel's latest advance. Gaza health authorities said Israeli fire across the enclave had killed at least 53 people on Thursday, mostly in Gaza City, where Israeli forces have advanced through the outer suburbs and are now a few kilometres (miles) from the city centre." | | | | | | 2. Israel dismisses 'spin' after Hamas says it is ready for comprehensive Gaza deal BBC "Israel has rejected a statement from Hamas saying the armed group is ready for a "comprehensive deal" to end the Gaza war and free all its hostages. "This is more spin by Hamas that has nothing new," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. It insisted the war would end only once the 48 hostages - 20 of whom are believed to be alive - were released, Hamas was disarmed, Gaza was demilitarised, Israel had security control, and an "alternative civilian administration" was established." | | | | | | 3. Leading genocide scholars organization says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza PBS "The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The determination by the International Association of Genocide Scholars — which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust experts — could serve to further isolate Israel in global public opinion and adds to a growing chorus of organizations that have used the term for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israel rejects the accusation and called the resolution an “embarrassment to the legal profession.” | | | | | | 4. Pope Leo calls for Gaza ceasefire as he hosts Israel's Herzog Yahoo "Pope Leo XIV has hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican and brought up the Gaza war to push for a quick resumption of negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, the Holy See said on Thursday. After holding talks with the head of the Catholic Church, Herzog met with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, it said." | | | | | | | | 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 29: From CMEP's Own: Taybeh: City of Refuge Read CMEP's Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon's August submission for the "Christian Reformed Church" here. In this piece, she writes about the long history of the Christian Town of Taybeh in the West Bank that has recently come under increased Israeli settler attacks. Despite these intimidations, the community is steadfast but needs our support. Read below to find out more! | | | | | | September 4 2025: P4P “A Letter to Our People and to Our Pastors” Written in August 2025 by A Jerusalem Voice for Justice, an ecumenical group of Christian leaders and laity, including Latin Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, Archbishop Atallah Hanna, and Bishop Munib Younan, the letter offers a powerful witness from Christians in the Holy Land who, in the face of war, displacement, and suffering, affirm their calling to remain, to bear witness, and to love. They call on the global Church to join them in building a just peace in Palestine/Israel, rooted in equality, justice, and faith in the God of resurrection. | | | | | | CMEP in the News: How Johnnie Moore, evangelical PR guru, became the face of Gaza's embattled aid effort “I have always found Rev. Johnnie Moore to be a person of goodwill,” wrote the Rev. Mae Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, in an email to RNS, “which is why I am confounded by his inability to see the incredibly problematic reality of the militarization of aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. As a pastor and Christian leader, I hope Rev. Moore will open his eyes to the reality of the ineffectiveness and devastating harm being caused by the GHF toward innocent civilians in Gaza.” | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | September 21, 2025, Prayer on UN World Peace Day Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), alongside partner organizations, is calling churches across the world to join in prayer and public witness on Sunday, 21 September 2025—UN World Peace Day. In response to the devastating violence in Gaza and the West Bank and the urgent appeals of Palestinian church leaders, congregations are invited to pray for peace, include a minute’s silence in services, use Archbishop Hosam Naoum’s prayer for the Holy Land, and join actions such as #FastforGaza. Together, the Church is called to a visible, united witness for peace, justice, and reconciliation. | | | | | | "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. Trump administration restrictions on Palestinian visa applicants means nearly all would be refused AP News "President Donald Trump’s administration is piling new restrictions on Palestinian visa applicants, making it nearly impossible for anyone holding a Palestinian Authority passport from receiving travel documents to visit the U.S. for business, work, pleasure or educational purposes. Palestinian applicants who hold non-Palestinian Authority passports may also face difficulties should they need a U.S. visa." | | | | | | 6. Belgium to recognise Palestinian statehood, impose sanctions on Israel Al-Jazeera "Belgium will recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot has announced. “Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government,” Prevot, who is also the deputy prime minister, wrote on the social media platform X early on Tuesday." | | | | | | 7. Gaza flotilla with Greta Thunberg on board departs Barcelona BBC "A flotilla of boats headed for Gaza carrying 350 pro-Palestinian activists - including climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg - has departed from Barcelona. Around 20 vessels displaying Palestinian flags left the Spanish port at 19:00 local time on Monday, stocked with medical and food supplies. The flotilla first attempted to set sail on Sunday, but had to return to port due to stormy weather.” | | | | | | 8. UAE warns Israel: Annexing West Bank is a ‘red line’ that would ‘end regional integration’ Times of Israel "A top United Arab Emirates official warned Israel on Tuesday that annexing the West Bank would cross a “red line” that would “end the vision of regional integration,” just two days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to hold a major ministerial consultation on whether to advance the highly controversial move." | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
