Monday, October 13, 2025

WCC news: WCC welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, urges lasting peace

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay welcomed with profound relief the initial implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Photo. DSPR/MECC
11 October 2025

“The WCC recognizes this cessation of hostilities as a necessary and hopeful first step, while also acknowledging its fragility and the uncertainty of the transitional period ahead,” said Pillay. “The scale of suffering and destruction has been catastrophic, leaving deep physical, psychological, and moral scars.”

He noted that the people of Gaza, in particular, continue to face immense hardship.

“The WCC emphasizes that the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law must guide all next steps,” he said. “Any governance arrangements must ensure the meaningful participation of Palestinians, uphold their right to remain on their land, and guarantee that the reconstruction and recovery process serves the principles of dignity, equity, and self-determination, rather than dependency, exclusion, or permanent occupation.”

Pillay called for the rebuilding of Gaza to go beyond the restoration of infrastructure. 

“It must seek to rebuild trust, restore human security, and lay the foundations for sustainable peace and development,” he said. “The WCC prays that this ceasefire will not only bring an end to active hostilities but will open a credible pathway toward a just and lasting peace, grounded in international law, accountability, and the recognition that every person—Israeli and Palestinian alike—has the right to live in safety, dignity, and hope.”

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 356 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.

Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press
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