Wednesday, October 2, 2024

WCC News: WCC expresses profound concern over escalating violence in Lebanon and Gaza

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed profound concern over escalating violence in Lebanon and Gaza, and reaffirmed the WCC’s commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of all peoples. 
Ain el Qassis, Lebanon. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC
01 October 2024

“We are deeply alarmed by the continued disregard for international law, which only perpetuates the cycle of violence and collective punishment, as tragically seen in various conflicts around the world,” he said. “The ongoing attacks by Israel, which have resulted in widespread destruction and the tragic loss of civilian lives, are intolerable.”

Pillay described Israel’s missile strikes and other actions in Lebanon, followed by its invasion of southern Lebanon, as “clear violations of international law” and an affront to the sovereignty of the Lebanese state. 

“We also recall the ongoing assault on Gaza, a region that has already paid an unbearable price in civilian lives and destruction,” he said. “The war on Gaza must end immediately.”

The people of Gaza deserve to live in dignity, he added.

“We call for an immediate end to all violence,” he said. “All countries and leaders, and especially the United States of America, must play a more intentional role in establishing just peace in the Middle East to avert a full-scale regional war.”

Pillay called for the persistent pre-occupation with war and violence to end.

“We express our Christian solidarity and support for WCC’s member churches and ecumenical partners in Lebanon and the Middle East Council of Churches in the midst this current crisis,” he said.

Read the full statement

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The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

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