 |  | October 10th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Celebration and trepidation in Gaza and Israel following ceasefire plan agreement CNN "News of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas was met with celebrations and joyous scenes in both Gaza and Israel, though residents on both sides of the devastating war expressed trepidation that a deal may still fall through. US President Donald Trump announced that negotiators had reached an agreement in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh late Wednesday, saying Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of a ceasefire framework." You can read CMEP's Ceasefire Statement HERE. | | | | | | 2. Gaza war in maps and satellite images BBC "Israel’s bombing campaign and ground invasion have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians according to the Hamas-run health ministry, nearly the entire population has been forced to move, and the UN says most homes have been damaged or destroyed." | | | | | | 3. Almost 55,000 preschool children in Gaza acutely malnourished, Lancet study estimates The Guardian "Almost 55,000 children under the age of six in Gaza are estimated to be acutely malnourished, far more than have so far been identified as victims of the potentially lethal condition, a study published in the Lancet, the respected international medical periodical, has revealed. The study, published on Wednesday, and led by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa), offers a month-by-month breakdown through much of the two-year conflict, and shows for the first time a clear link between Israeli restrictions on supplies entering Gaza and levels of malnutrition among children." | | | | | | 4. Spanish MPs back move to enshrine in law arms embargo on Israel The Guardian "Spain’s parliament has voted to enshrine in law an arms embargo on Israel that the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, introduced to end “the genocide in Gaza”. Parliament backed by 178 votes to 169 the decree announced in September by Sánchez, one of the strongest critics of Israel’s devastating two-year-old war in the Palestinian territory." | | | | | | | | Still Active: 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. | | | | | | | | September 29, 2025: VoyageDenver Magazine Interview with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon On September 29, 2025, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon was interviewed by VoyageDenver, a Colorado-based magazine, as part of their "Bold Journey" series. Rev. Dr. Cannon spoke about resilience rooted in faith, the importance of hope in times of suffering, and recommended Philip Yancey’s Disappointment with God as a book that shaped her journey. | | | | | | Call to Prayer for Shadi Khoury On Sept, 8th 2025, after two years and eleven months of procrastination in the corridors of the occupation's courts, after an arrest accompanied by torture, Shadi's steadfastness during interrogation, a full year of house arrest, and thirty-seven consecutive court sessions, the judge issued his decision convicting Shadi. Please join us on Wednesdays 12:30pm EST as we pray for Shadi and all other affected by unjust violence. | | | | | | Call to Prayer Layan Nasir The cautious relief brought by news of a ceasefire deal for Gaza was shattered today with the devastating report that Palestinian activist Layan Nasir has been taken directly to prison following a court appearance. Layan and her family now face the pain of an additional eight-month sentence within Israel’s harsh prison system. The timing of this decision underscores the ongoing suffering and injustice faced by Palestinians, an unrelenting reality that persists even as hopes rise for peace in Gaza. | | | | | | October 7, 2025: P4P: Acknowledging Two Years of War, Violence, and Ethnic Cleansing, CMEP Grieves All Devastating Loss of Life from the Atrocities of October 7, 2023, and the Violence Perpetuated Against Gaza As we mark two years since the atrocities of October 7, 2023, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) grieves all lives lost, Israeli and Palestinian alike, and laments the immense suffering that continues to unfold. We remember the 1,195 people killed and the hundreds taken hostage during the attacks by Hamas and other militant groups, and we mourn the staggering toll of Israel’s ensuing war on Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and left entire communities in ruins. In this season of mourning, we reaffirm our faith that peace and justice are possible. | | | | | | October 9, 2025: CMEP Welcomes Ceasefire Implementation with Cautious Hope and Calls for a Permanent End to the War on Gaza Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) welcomes the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas with cautious optimism. After nearly two years of relentless warfare, widespread destruction, and devastating loss of life, we pray this agreement marks a turning point toward peace, justice, and healing for all who call the Holy Land home. | | | | | | October 10, 2025: Press Release: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Launches Armenian Advisory Council at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) proudly announces the launch of its Armenian Advisory Council, inaugurated on September 16, 2025, at the Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City. The launch event, titled “From Ararat to the World,” brought together church leaders, ecumenical representatives, and members of the Armenian-American community for an evening of fellowship, cultural celebration, and shared commitment to justice and peace. | | | | | | | | October 14,2025: Testimonies of Gaza’s Families: Public Vigil of Lament In partnership with the Arab American Institute (AAI) and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) invites you to join us in Washington, DC, for a public vigil of lament on October 14th, centering the voices of U.S.-based Palestinians with families currently living in the Gaza Strip. These events showcase our steadfast commitment to uplifting impacted Palestinians and their loved ones facing Israel’s ongoing military bombardment for more than two years. We hope that our efforts and prayers will allow U.S. leaders to listen to our demands – to stop funding weapons and war and to allow humanitarian access. | | | | | | October 18, 2025: What Life is Really Like for Christians in the Holy Land On October 18th, join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and our coalition partners to hear What Life is Really Like for Christians in the Holy Land. The afternoon's featured speaker is Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, an Orthodox nun who spent more than a decade in the Holy Land. She will be joined by several additional expert speakers, including CMEP's senior director of advocacy and government relations, Kyle Cristofalo. We hope you will join us for this timely event! | | | | | | October 22, 2025: Virtual Vigil Lamenting Two Years of War in the Holy Land As we continue to bear witness to the suffering in Gaza and across the Middle East, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) invites you to a Virtual Vigil of Lament. Together, we will pause to reflect on the pain of the past two years in the Holy Land through prayer, reflection, and witness. Speakers will be added periodically as they accept invitations to take part. | | | | | | Churches for Middle East Peace
Nov. 2025 Encountering the Holy Land Trip Join Churches for Middle East Peace as we journey to Israel/Palestine in November 2025 for Encountering the Holy Land. This trip will highlight the spiritual significance of the land, the role of local Christians in shaping the region’s past and present, and opportunities to meet with religious, academic, and non-profit leaders working toward peace and justice in the land. Alongside visits to sacred sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, participants will engage in thoughtful conversations that bring deeper understanding of the complex realities on the ground today. Trip Dates: November 8th - 17th, 2025
* $500 deposit due by September 28th to reserve your spot *
Full payment due by October 15th, 2025 | | | | | | "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 | | | | | | Receive the Name of a Palestinian Child Alive Today and Lift them up
in Prayer and Advocacy "Let Children Live" More than two million children in Gaza and the West Bank live under brutal oppression, their lives too often reduced to statistics. Yet each child is beloved by God. The Let Children Live campaign invites you to receive the name of a Palestinian child alive today and lift them up in prayer and advocacy. Together, we can remind the world of their dignity, hope, and right to a future. Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and our global partners in this urgent call to stand with children who deserve to live and thrive. | | | | | | | | 5. Trump order pledges that US will defend Qatar in event of attack Reuters "U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States' own security, according to a document published on Wednesday that says U.S. forces could step in to defend the Middle Eastern nation. Qatar on Wednesday welcomed Trump's order, describing it as a milestone in strengthening defense ties and bilateral cooperation, its foreign ministry said." | | | | | | 6. Syria shares results of parliamentary election amid inclusivity concerns Al-Jazeera "Syria has published the results of its first parliamentary election since the government of former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled, revealing that most new members of the revamped People’s Assembly are Sunni Muslim and male. Electoral commission spokesperson Nawar Najmeh told a press conference on Monday that only four percent of the 119 members selected in the indirect vote were women and only two Christians were among the winners, sparking concerns about inclusivity and fairness." | | | | | | 7. Returning Gaza flotilla activists claim mistreatment in Israeli detention, fear for remaining prisoners CNN "An Italian activist who was part of the Gaza aid flotilla and subsequently detained by Israel has described allegations of being mistreated and humiliated while in Israeli custody, with little access to legal assistance. Lorenzo D’Agostino is one of a number of flotilla participants deported by Israel who have claimed they were treated poorly while they were detained. Israel has strongly denied allegations of mistreating the group." | | | | | | 8. Israel Wants to Hire Chris Pratt and Steph Curry; The Jewish state is seeking to target Christian Evangelical churches for support, using celebrities and an anti-Palestinian message in a new $3.2M effort Responsible Statecraft "A newly created firm called Show Faith by Works is carrying out a $3.2 million outreach and digital targeting campaign to Christian churches in the western United States on behalf of the Israeli government. The firm’s goal, as described in its filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, is to increase “positive associations with the Nation of Israel, while linking the Palestinian population with extremist factors.” | | | | | | | | October 5th: Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon Guest Sermon at Washington Community Fellowship On Sunday, October 5th, CMEP executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon joined Washington Community Fellowship and delivered a special guest messaged entitled The Violence of Love: A Radical Revival of Peace, Justice, and Enemy Love. At a moment when anger often overshadows love, this message calls for revival—one that restores our faith, our politics, and our common life together by centering ourselves on Jesus and the radical love of the cross. This revival is not about cheap activism or easy answers, but about the transformation of our own souls and the reclaiming of our Christian witness. We must return to seeing the humanity of the other, practicing enemy love, and embracing the costly, sacrificial love that Jesus embodied—a love that is strong enough to heal hatred and transform enemies into friends. You can watch the recording below! | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
