The World Council of Churches (WCC), as a global fellowship of churches, stands in deep solidarity with the Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchs of Jerusalem, and with all Christians and communities living in Gaza in these difficult times.
We echo the Patriarchs’ urgent call to end the violence, to respect the dignity and fundamental rights of all civilians, and to prevent any form of forced displacement or deportation. As the church leaders have affirmed, this war and the suffering it inflicts on the Palestinian people cannot be the basis on which the future of the region is built; now is the time to choose healing, justice, and life for all communities in the land.
We call upon our member churches, humanitarian actors, governments, and all responsible members of the international community to respond without hesitation to this appeal: to protect civilians—especially the most vulnerable—to ensure the safe return of those displaced, and to guarantee humanitarian access and dignity for all.
Together we join the Patriarchs in proclaiming the biblical word: “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality” (Proverbs 12:28). May this vision guide our common witness for peace in Gaza and throughout the Holy Land.
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General secretary
World Council of Churches
