June 3, 2025
“As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be peacemakers and to uphold the dignity of every human life. In this spirit, we grieve deeply the many wars and violent conflicts in many parts of the world today. These bring immense suffering, the displacement of individuals and families, and the tragic loss of innocent lives.
In particular, our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastating situation in Gaza. The scale of destruction and the suffering of civilians, especially women and children, is overwhelming. The United Nations has warned of a looming famine, with over 14,000 infants at risk of acute malnutrition and starvation in the coming year. Reports of children dying from hunger grieve us profoundly. As people of faith, we cannot remain silent in the face of such suffering.
We lament the deaths of approximately 55,000 Palestinians and 1,600 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians. We are especially distressed by the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid, the destruction of hospitals and other essential infrastructure and the starvation of the population—actions that stand in clear violation of international humanitarian law. We must not grow numb to this human tragedy, and we reject the normalization of such immense suffering.
At the same time, we hold firmly to our conviction that every person is made in the image of God. We unequivocally condemn antisemitism in all its forms. We affirm the right of Jewish communities to live in safety and peace. We also condemn the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, and we continue to pray for the safe return of all hostages and for healing for those who mourn.
With deep compassion and urgency, we call upon the Government of Israel to allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza. We pray for the leaders of all parties involved to seek a path that ends the cycle of violence and brings about a just and lasting peace.
We commit ourselves and communities of the Canadian Council of Churches, to prayer, to advocacy, and to the ministry of reconciliation in the name of Christ. May God have mercy on all who suffer, and may peace take root where there has been only destruction.”
Governing Board
The Canadian Council of Churches