Christian Leaders in France Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza and the Release of Hostages


As of publication of this article, least 31,184 people, including over 13,400 children in Gaza have been killed and 72,889 wounded by Israeli attacks on the strip since October 7. (news reports)
Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Leaders of France Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza:
Situation in Gaza: Christian religious leaders in France call for a ceasefire and the release of hostages
We, Christian religious leaders of France, stand in solidarity with all the victims of the war between Israel and Hamas and call for a ceasefire. Bearers of the values ​​of the Gospel, we suffer from the desperate situation experienced by more than two million people living in the Gaza Strip. We want to affirm that the restriction of access to essential resources such as medical care, food and water is fundamentally inhumane.

We feel solidarity with all the victims of this war, particularly the civilian populations, but also the soldiers or combatants who bear and will bear the consequences of the actions they must carry out. We expressed our solidarity in the aftermath of the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023. We repeat it, as is our duty, after the killing of more than a hundred hungry Gazans which took place on Thursday February 29, 2024, and forces us to see what is inhuman in the present situation.

The military objectives and political interests pursued by this war cannot neglect the priority of saving all human life. We condemn acts of violence which exacerbate human suffering and prevent the emergence of lasting peace. We urge those involved in this war to make the protection of human life and the dignity of civilians their highest priority.

In this spirit, we urge all political and religious leaders to intensify their action to end this violence and to take essential steps in a process aimed at establishing lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

In particular, we ask:An immediate ceasefire, to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, primarily medical care, food and water.
The immediate release of all hostages, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.
International efforts to open, through dialogue, a new political path towards lasting peace, revive the debate on a viable two-state solution, and begin work on healing the memories of all inhabitants of the region.
In this time of Lent , we invite Christians of all faiths to continue to urgently bring the situation in the Middle East into their prayers, not to get used to this situation of war and violence, to be facilitators of dialogue and meeting where the sensitivities of each are opposed, to pray and work tirelessly so that everyone draws from their religion reasons to serve peace and overcome fears and anger.

Pastor Christian Krieger, co-president of CECEF , President of the Protestant Federation of France,
Mgr Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, co-president of CECEF , President of the Conference of Bishops of France ,
Metropolitan Dimitrios, co-president of CECEF , President of the Assembly of Orthodox bishops of France.
Source: https://eglise.catholique.fr/approfondir-sa-foi/vivre-sa-foi-a-tous-les-ages/lunite-des-chretiens-2/declarations-du-cecef/550044-les-responsables-religieux-chretiens-de-france-appellent-au-cessez-le-feu-et-a-la-liberation-des-otages/

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