 | October 9th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. |
| | 1. Israelis mark three years since October 7 as Palestinians mourn Gaza's destruction Reuters "Israelis gathered in silence on Wednesday in a kibbutz near the Gaza border that was overrun by Hamas militants on October 7 three years ago, mourning victims of attacks that set off Israel's assault in Gaza and plunged the Middle East into war. In the Gaza Strip, devastated by three years of Israeli bombardment, Palestinians sheltering among the ruins of destroyed cities recalled life before a war that displaced nearly the entire population and tore apart families." |
| |
|
| 2. NYT: Top Huckabee aide distorted US embassy reporting in bid to protect Israeli government; envoy issues denial Times of Israel "David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee in Jerusalem, has for over a year sought to restrict or reshape the US embassy’s reporting on Israeli government actions – particularly in the West Bank – in an effort to shield Jerusalem from criticism in Washington, The New York Times reports, citing 12 sources involved in or familiar with the matter. Since starting his post in April 2025, Milstein has allegedly blocked some reports from reaching Washington, substantially modified others, and held up drafts until the information lost its relevance, according to the report." |
| |
|
| 3. Trump says US will not resume military strikes on Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections AP News "President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will not order a resumption of military strikes on Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections in the United States. Trump, while stumping for Republicans this week, has hinted that he was confident that an endgame to the war could come in the days before or after the election, while also hinting that he remained open to resuming full-scale military operations against Iran." |
| |
|
| 4. Residents of West Bank’s last Christian village ‘living in fear’ Vatican News "In August, following months of settler attacks, the Israeli government declared Taybeh a ‘closed military zone’, a move it said aimed to protect residents after repeated incidents of settler violence. In practice, Hassan said, these restrictions 'just apply to Palestinians, while the settlers continue to go wherever they want'. As well as cutting off residents from their olive trees, Hassan continued, Taybeh’s ‘closed military zone’ status also means that pilgrims, journalists and other outsiders are not able to enter, depriving the village of a crucial lifeline to the outside world." |
| |
|
| 5. Latin Patriarchate mourns 2 Christian women killed in Gaza City strike EWTN News "Two Christian women were killed early on Oct. 3 in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment in western Gaza City, according to Palestinian and Church sources. The women had recently moved into the apartment after spending a prolonged period sheltering at Holy Family Catholic Church during the ongoing war. The victims were identified as Maysaa Khader Ibrahim Abu Dawoud and Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar. They had been living in an apartment in the Institutions area of western Gaza City. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike." |
|
|
| | 6. Settler attacks reported across West Bank as Palestinians begin olive harvest Times of Israel "Palestinians harvesting olives were attacked and property was damaged in several locations across the West Bank on Saturday, according to Palestinian reports. In the village of Osarin, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said it evacuated a 50-year-old Palestinian man to a hospital after he was beaten by settlers. He was carried back into the village on a ladder he had reportedly been using to harvest olives." |
| |
|
| 7. The long-deployed USS Lincoln returns home to San Diego Bay AP News "After more than 10 months at sea, thousands of sailors Thursday poured out of the the USS Lincoln on San Diego Bay to thunderous cheers, streaming tears and emotional hugs, marking a homecoming that included new dads who met babies born while they were away on a historic deployment supporting the Iran war. The reunion followed an emotional rollercoaster for families who described crying and losing sleep after hearing reports of supply shortages and deteriorating mental health among the crew during the deployment that spent a record 265 days of uninterrupted time at sea. Many said they only could communicate with family via the occasional email or rare WhatsApp calls." |
| |
|
| 8. Vance says Iran must cut enrichment to end war Reuters "US Vice President JD Vance said in an exclusive interview with Reuters that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries’ seven-month war, even as Washington was unsure how Tehran makes decisions in negotiations. Vance, a longtime skeptic of US involvement in foreign wars, has taken a leading role in negotiating a settlement to the conflict and brokered a provisional peace agreement in June that quickly fell apart. The war has jolted global energy markets and become a political liability for US President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans ahead of November midterm elections." |
| |
|
| | Oct. 09. 2026: Joint Statement: Gaza Ceasefire Exists in Name Only, Say More Than 100 Organizations
CMEP joins more than 100 humanitarian, human rights, and civil society organizations in signing a joint statement marking one year since the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The organizations warn that the ceasefire exists in name only, as Palestinians continue to be killed and injured, while restrictions on humanitarian aid, medical supplies, shelter, and reconstruction materials leave millions facing hunger, displacement, and devastating living conditions. The statement calls on governments to use their influence to end the ongoing violence, ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, and support meaningful recovery and reconstruction in Gaza. |
| |
|
| Oct 6, 2026: CMEP Mourns the Killing of Two Christian Women in Gaza and Calls for an End to the Killing of Civilians Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) mourns the deaths of Maysaa Khader Ibrahim Abu Dawoud and Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar, two Christian Palestinian women who were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential apartment in western Gaza City on October 3. Their deaths are a painful reminder that Palestinians in Gaza continue to be killed as innocent bystanders in strikes that Israel describes as causing “collateral damage.” Whatever terminology is used, the scale of civilian death and destruction in Gaza is unacceptable by any standard. The loss of innocent human life cannot be reduced to a statistic or dismissed as an unavoidable consequence of war. |
| |
|
| Oct 7, 2026: The Disrupters: Mae Elise Cannon Won’t Look Away from Violence in the Middle East On October 7, 2026, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon joined Rev. Dr. Caleb Campbell on The Disrupters, an InterVarsity Press podcast, to discuss global injustice, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Christian call to peacemaking. Drawing from her experiences working with communities affected by war and displacement, Mae challenges listeners to resist fear, reject false binaries, and see people caught in conflict as neighbors made in the image of God. She also explores what faithful Christian engagement can look like in the face of violence, injustice, and overwhelming suffering, including the courage to give witness, pursue justice, and practice the radical love of Jesus. Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. |
| | |
|
| Oct 7, 2026: Three Years After October 7: Violence Cannot Be the Way Forward Three years ago, on October 7, 2023, an unspeakable horror was unleashed upon communities across southern Israel. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) continues to mourn every life stolen on that terrible day. We grieve with the families who lost loved ones, with those who continue to live with the trauma of October 7, and with those whose loved ones were taken hostage. We must not forget the suffering of these families. Nothing can diminish the horror of October 7, nor the profound trauma carried by those who lost loved ones or whose lives were forever changed that day. But remembering that tragedy must not mean accepting the continued loss of innocent life. The wounds of October 7 cannot be healed through further violence, and one people’s suffering cannot be answered by inflicting suffering upon others. |
| |
|
| Oct 7. 2026: Written by CMEP: October 7, Three Years Later: A Christian Response to Israel, Gaza, and the Work of Peace In her latest article for Christians for Social Action, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon reflects on the devastating realities facing Israelis and Palestinians three years after October 7, 2023. Drawing on Scripture, firsthand encounters, and current realities in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, she calls Christians to reject zero-sum narratives and recognize that lasting peace requires security, freedom, self-determination, accountability, and dignity for both peoples. |
| |
|
| Oct 25, 2026: Peace Sunday Offering for Churches for Middle East Peace As we look forward to this year’s 40th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Peace on October 27th, we join Pope Leo XIV and Christians around the world in renewing the call offered by St. John Paul II at Assisi in 1986 and reaffirmed by Pope Francis in 2023: to reject violence, uphold human dignity, and pursue a just and lasting peace. In the spirit of this global effort, Churches for Peace in the Middle East invite Christian churches throughout the United States to come together on Sunday, October 25th to participate in a national Giving Sunday. On this day, we ask U.S. churches to commit a portion of their daily collection or a special offering to the cause of our educating, elevating, and advocating for peace and make a one-time donation from this offering to Churches for Peace in the Middle East. |
| |
|
| Sep 29, 2026: Gaza is Still Hungry Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow Andrew Wickersham unpacks the latest data in UNICEF's recent report on the nutritional crisis in Gaza. He argues in the Christian Citizen that the decline in chronic hunger since the October 2025 ceasefire shows just how crucial the resumption of international aid has been for alleviating famine conditions. He calls on American Christians to advocate for a permanent end to Israel's Gaza blockade and to support unrestricted humanitarian assistance to Gaza. |
| |
|
| | October 18: Adult Ed at Westmoreland Congregational (Bethesda, MD) with CMEP's Kyle Cristofalo Join Kyle Cristofalo, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) senior director of advocacy and government relations, for a conversation centering the question: How can Christians in the U.S. seek to faithfully bear witness and respond to the crises we see unfolding across the Holy Land today? Attendees will hear updates on the current realities on the ground across the Middle East, and how CMEP and its coalition partners have sought to respond here in the U.S. Audiences will also engage in questions and conversation, seeking to reflect on the ways the Gospel calls us to stand with the oppressed. (Psalm 146:7-9) |
| |
|
| October 23: Peace by Piece: Stories of Fair Trade and Faithfulness in the Holy Land In celebration of Fair Trade Month, join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and SERRV International on October 23, to hear from three "Peace by Piece" artisan-leaders in Holy Land and learn about the stories behind their work. Suzan Sahori, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, Hadas Lahav, CEO of Sindyanna of Galilee, and Mohammed Joudeh, a Palestinian olive producer, will share how fair trade supports local producers and how the current climate is affecting their livelihoods – including ongoing economic challenges, movement restrictions, and the impacts of settler attacks. Co-moderated by CMEP's Destiny Magnett and SERRV's Serena Sato, the conversation will explore also how communities abroad can support these leaders and their communities through the Peace by Piece project partnership and beyond. |
| |
|
| October 30-November 1, 2026: CMEP Presbyterian Advisory Council in Louisville Join the Presbyterian Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) for an informative slate of events in Louisville, KY between October 30-November 1. Events will include robust discussions of the current context in Palestine and Israel, countering narratives of Christian Zionism, and concrete ways for communities to engage in initiatives that support just peace in the region. See our full slate of public events and register. |
| |
|
| April 19-21 Christian Advocacy Summit for Just Peace in Palestine The Christian Advocacy Summit team is thrilled to announce our first keynote speaker for April's summit will be H.E. Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land. You can read more about Bishop Haddad's ministry and leadership, and get your summit tickets at summitforpeace.org. We hope to see you in DC April 19-21, 2027! Fewer than 20 tickets remain for super-early-bird discount! Claim yours by October 15th! |
| |
|
| November 5-7: Church at the Crossroads in Atlanta This November, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is excited to once again partner with the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice (BIPJ) as they bring the Church at the Crossroads conference to Atlanta November 5-7, 2026. Rooted in Scripture and kingdom-focussed theology, this conference invites participants to wrestle honestly with biblical questions, hear directly from the indigenous Church in the Holy Land, and discover faithful discipleship in a violent world. Use code CMEP for $30 off! |
| |
|
| | Contact Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222 [email protected] |
|
|
| |
|
|
