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Washington, D.C. - October 7th, 2024

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Churches for Middle East Peace Commemorates the One Year Anniversary of Oct. 7th

Washington, D.C.
October 7, 2024

As we mark the solemn anniversary of the October 7th attacks, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) pauses to remember the profound loss of human life on that day. The pain and grief experienced by the families and communities with loved ones killed or taken hostage is immeasurable, and our hearts go out to all in Israel, and the international community who continue to mourn.

As we reflect on this anniversary, we also lament and decry the ongoing suffering that has unfolded before and since. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Lebanese, Syrians, and Yemenis have paid the ultimate price in the months following the October 7th attacks. They too are victims of a violence that has engulfed the region and devastated communities. 

The hostages taken on October 7th must be released without delay, as must the thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli detention facilities under deplorable conditions—many without charge or trial. Justice demands their freedom be secured, as no person should be subjected to inhumane treatment or indefinite detention, and all should be afforded the civil protections of the due process of law and the application of international human rights and dignity.

Almost a year of constant Israeli air and ground offensives have devastated Palestinians in Gaza, a form of collective punishment for the atrocities of Hamas and other groups on Oct. 7. At least 40,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel’s ongoing military bombardment, with children being among those most affected. The majority of Gaza’s buildings have been reduced to rubble. Basic infrastructure—sanitation systems, places of worship, hospitals, and schools—have been completely destroyed. The people of Gaza are not only suffering from the loss of their homes, regular access to food, and livelihoods but are also enduring a humanitarian catastrophe that demands immediate international attention. Medical professionals and humanitarian actors have reported the restriction of aid, including by Israeli settler groups, being used as a weapon war.  

Over the past year we have consistently warned that the inability to reach a comprehensive and durable ceasefire in Gaza would lead to a broader regional war. Unfortunately, the events of the past few weeks, including increased Israeli attacks in Lebanon against Hezbollah, and the Iranian response, are evidence of a regional war that has spread far beyond Israeli borders. This war is to no one's benefit, especially any of those being held captive or detained, and the continued escalation of violence only deepens the wounds of all affected communities. In addition, the increased violence will only perpetuate increased cycles of hatred and militancy against warring parties in generations to come. 

There is no military solution. The path to security for both Israelis and Palestinians does not lie in the perpetuation of violence. The true path forward demands addressing the root causes of this crisis, which pre-date October 7: the occupation of Palestinian lands and the ongoing repression of Palestinian rights. This cycle of violence will not end through the mass killing or oppression of a people. True peace and security can only come through justice, dignity, and the respect of rights for all.

As we commemorate this tragic anniversary, let us renew our commitment to peace, to the end of the occupation, and to a future where all people in the region can live in security, free from fear and repression, and with their full rights and dignity.
 

 

 

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Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition of more than 30 national church communions and organizations, including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical traditions that works to encourage US policies that actively promote a comprehensive resolution to conflicts in the Middle East with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. CMEP works to mobilize US Christians to embrace a holistic perspective and to be advocates of equality, human rights, security, and justice for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people of the Middle East.

 
 
 

Recent CMEP Statements and Press Releases:

September 25, 2024: Churches for Middle East Peace calls on the UNGA Resolution Calling for an End to Israel’s Occupation of Palestine to be Upheld
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) supports last week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution, which affirms the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion that calls for Israel to end its decades-long occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip within one year. This resolution represents the minimum required for any meaningful steps toward justice, peace, and reconciliation in the region.

September 10, 2024: Churches for Middle East Peace Condemns the Killing of U.S. Peace Activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) mourns the tragic killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old unarmed U.S. peace activist, by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during a weekly protest against increased Israeli settlements in the West Bank town of Beita. According to eyewitness accounts, the shooting took place 30 minutes after the protest had disbanded. Aysenur, along with other international volunteers, were about 200 yards from the Israeli military when she was shot twice. Aysenur’s death is not an isolated incident; it is part of a disturbing pattern of U.S. citizens being killed or targeted by the IDF, with no justice or accountability in sight.

September 10, 2024: Gaza Humanitarian Snapshot #5
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and leading humanitarian agencies outline the death toll of the recent Israeli military operations including the largest and longest incursion into the West Bank in two decades as well as the September 10th strike on the designated “humanitarian” zone in Al-Mawasi which so far has killed 40 people.

September 6, 2024: CMEP Mourns Death of Hostages and Massive Civilian Deaths in Gaza
Since October 7, CMEP has continually called for the release of hostages taken captive into Gaza, as well as thousands of Palestinian prisoners held without due process of law. Our hearts go out to all families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives over the past ten-plus months. The value of every human life is sacred, and we mourn the loss of all lives caught in this ongoing conflict. We continue to demand the release of hostages who are held in Gaza and to call for an end to all violence between combatants and the Israeli military.


See all of our public statements and press releases.

 

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Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222  info@cmep.org

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