Israel/Palestine

The Friends Committee, a Quaker lobbying group, has been pushing in Washington for a cease-fire, going up against more powerful and better-funded groups backing Israel.

We joined a peace delegation, convened by Churches for Middle East Peace, on a two-week journey through the region. Our trip included extensive visits with patriarchs and heads of churches, pastors and local Christians, Jewish and Muslim leaders, heads of state and other political officials, peace activists, and human rights leaders in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan, and Lebanon.

As Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, more than 50 national organizations sent a letter to President Biden urging him to restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

To stop the killing and prevent further loss of life, we call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. We also call for immediate ac􀆟on to provide the basic necessities of life: water, food, shelter, and medical care.

As Quakers, we respect the universal sanctity and dignity of all people. We urge our government and all those who have influence in the Middle East conflict to set aside violence and aggression. We encourage them to devote diplomatic, financial, and material resources to peace rather than war.

We urgently call for: an immediate ceasefire, return of the hostages, ongoing humanitarian aid, help from trauma-informed peace teams, and a global commitment to finding peaceful ways to resolve conflict.

We traveled to Israel, the occupied territories, Jordan and Lebanon, meeting with a wide range of religious, political and civil society leaders. At each stop, we shared our calls for a cease-fire, protecting civilians and returning hostages, and we pointed to the need to address the root causes of the violence, including the military occupation and blockade of Gaza.

Rather than pursuing a reckless, ineffective military approach that will only fuel more violence, the U.S. must focus on the root issue of this conflict: Gaza.