Since October 7, 2023, we have witnessed a gruesome escalation of violence, resulting in unfathomable human suffering. We grieve the lives lost and millions of civilians injured because this spiraling conflict, whether in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, or beyond.
The terrorist attack by Hamas, as well as Israel’s response, must be seen in the context of nearly 80 years of unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. During the past 12 months alone, most news outlets have reported shocking statistics about human casualties. Behind each number is a name, family, brother, or sister.
The reflections of URI Regional Coordinator Mamoun Khreisat give us pause.
‟The Middle East, the cradle of civilizations and religions that once illuminated humanity's path, now suffers under the dark shadow of violence. We mourn the innocent lives lost and feel a deep shame as the world stands by, failing to protect this sacred land. No conflict on Earth is worth more than the soul of an innocent child.”
There are great risks of further escalation, including the unimaginable.
‟In the Middle East, nuclear weapons - tactical and strategic - exist in the background of the fighting,” warns URI Founder and President Emeritus Bishop William Swing. ‟Some of these weapons are in the process of being created now. Thus, these sites are potential targets. Escalation opens the window for catastrophic nuclear encounters.”
Violence cannot and will not resolve the challenges of injustice, military occupation, and terror. Violence and retaliation will not save hostages or reunite families. What can we, as compassionate people, do to help bring an end to this violence?
What is needed is brave leadership focused on safeguarding lives and ending this war as soon as possible. URI Executive Director Jerry White explains that
‟the proliferation of religion-related violence is traumatizing more than four billion descendants of Abraham worldwide for generations to come. This war has metastasized beyond Israel and Palestine. It’s time for a radically new approach to end cycles of violence across the region.”
In the face of daily attacks and regional escalation, we call upon the leaders of all the governments and armies directly or indirectly involved to stop the violence, release all hostages, and start tending to the current humanitarian and environmental disaster, abiding by International Law and UN Resolutions.
‟We are never neutral when it comes to violence. Both history and science have shown that violence is contagious – it causes more of the same and spreads just like an epidemic. But this violence is not inevitable. It must be stopped, and we need military leaders and politicians on all sides to prioritize the preservation of human life over military gain,” says Karen Volker, URI Director of Partnership and Violence Prevention.
Since its founding 25 years ago, the largest grassroots interfaith network, URI remains committed to ending religiously motivated violence and creating safe places for peace and reconciliation. We stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors of all forms of violence. URI is not a religious organization. We are nonpolitical and nonpartisan. Many URI CCs, in Israel and Palestine continue to work tirelessly for peace, justice, and healing in the region despite the war. Though deeply impacted, they are committed to helping build a better world.
In the spirit of new beginnings and high holidays in the birthplace of the three Abrahamic religions, we appeal to all parties contributing to mass violence to come together in a genuinely concerted effort to create the enabling conditions for a fair and lasting peace in the Holy Land - one that recognizes and honors the dignity and humanity of all citizens of the region, regardless of citizenship or one's personal faith or beliefs.
For more information, contact: [email protected]
Karen Volker, Director of Partnership and Violence Prevention
Diana Conan, Director of Development and Outreach