The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, headed by Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee, has welcomed the historic resolutions adopted by the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), one of the largest and most influential Protestant denominations in the United States, representing more than one million members and nearly 8,000 local congregations.
By an overwhelming vote of 454 to 15, the General Assembly adopted a resolution describing Israel’s actions Gaza as genocide and a grave violation of international law. The Committee described these decisions as a principled and courageous moral stance and an important step toward advancing truth, justice, and accountability.
In this regard, the Committee commended the efforts of Palestinian Presbyterian pastors and the Presbyterian Church in the Holy Land in amplifying the Palestinian voice and strengthening international church engagement, which helped shape this significant moral and humanitarian position within the global church.
The Committee stressed that the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly constitute a major step toward upholding the principles of justice and accountability. In addition to recognizing the gravity of the crimes committed in Gaza, the Assembly called for a United States arms embargo on Israel, affirming that the continued flow of weapons contributes to the perpetuation of crimes against Palestinian civilians and undermines the prospects for a just peace.
The Committee also welcomed the Church’s decision to boycott products and companies linked to the Israeli occupation and its violations of international law, as well as its decision to divest from Palantir Technologies and GE Aerospace due to their involvement in supporting Israeli military operations. These measures, the Committee noted, reflect a profound ethical commitment to responsible investment and send a clear message that religious institutions should neither directly nor indirectly be complicit in supporting occupation or benefiting from its actions.
The Committee further welcomed the adoption of the Kairos Palestine document, which articulates a Palestinian Christian vision rooted in freedom, justice, and an end to the occupation. The document affirms that a just peace can only be achieved through ending injustice and upholding international law and human rights. The Committee also praised the steadfast role of Palestinian churches in safeguarding the authentic Christian presence in the Holy Land and defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Moreover, the Committee commended the General Assembly’s decision to mandate church bodies to continue their advocacy efforts before the United States Congress in support of an arms embargo on Israel and to encourage church members to refrain from purchasing products associated with violations of international law. These steps, the Committee emphasized, represent a practical expression of the ethical principles embraced by the Church.
The Higher Presidential Committee called upon churches and ecclesiastical institutions around the world to follow this historic example and take practical measures consistent with their spiritual and moral mission by supporting international accountability mechanisms, halting arms exports to Israel, holding companies complicit in supporting the occupation accountable, and intensifying efforts to end the Israeli occupation.
The Committee further reaffirmed the Palestinian people’s legitimate national rights, foremost among them the right to freedom, self-determination, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the path toward achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in accordance with international law and relevant international resolutions.
