General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed grave concern regarding
the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East following the first direct confrontation
between Iran and Israel.

Jerusalem, March 2019. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

~ from a post dated April 15, 2024 on the World Council of Churches website

“We firmly believe that violence and warfare offer no sustainable solutions and only serve to further harm vulnerable communities and destabilize the region,” he said. “We reaffirm our conviction that safety and security are not singular achievements but collective realities that depend on the access of all people to justice, peace, and human dignity equally.”

Pillay described five calls to action.

“We call on all governments and politicians concerned to serve the interests of peace, people, and planet instead of pride and retaliation,” he said in the first call to action. “The prevention of further escalation of violence in the region  should be a matter of priority for all concerned.”

The second call is related to the responsibility of the United States and other nations.

“We call on the United States and all other states with influence in the region to uphold their responsibilities and act as agents of goodwill,” he said. “It is essential that these nations use their positions to foster dialogue and encourage solutions that respect the rights and dignity of all people involved.”

Pillay also reiterated the WCC’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. “We urgently call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” he said. “A cessation of hostilities is the first necessary step toward healing and recovery, allowing for an urgent collaborative effort to restore life in the region and ensuring the safe return of all civilians to their homes.”

The fourth call is related to freeing detainees and hostages. “We call for the release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners detained for asserting their rights to be free from occupation, discrimination, and to live with dignity,” Pillay said. “Each human life counts and the freedom of these individuals underscores a commitment to human rights and justice.” We also call for the release of all bodies of the deceased to their families.”

The fifth call implores the United Nations to actively resume its role in convening and facilitating peaceful negotiations between all parties involved. “It is imperative that the United Nations also ensures that accountability is a cornerstone of these processes, promoting transparent and fair practices that lead to lasting peace,” Pillay said.

He concluded: “As followers of Christ, who calls us to be peacemakers, we are compelled to speak against the spiralling cycle of violence and to work tirelessly for a world where peace is rooted in justice.”

Read the full statement from Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary, World Council of Churches, on the World Council of Churches website.