Pax Christi International on escalation of conflict in Holy Land

Pax Christi International condemns all acts of violence which once again envelope the Holy Land in unimaginable grief, fear, and devastation. We mourn the loss of each life for all are equal. We remain steadfast in our call for a ceasefire, knowing that an escalation in fighting will not resolve the root causes of this relentless cycle of violence but only sow seeds of greater hatred and animosity.

We stand firmly in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have lived for over seven decades under a brutal military occupation or have been subjugated to an inhumane blockade. Their cries for justice have gone unanswered for too long. While violence can never be justified and all who commit heinous acts must be held to account, the injustices and dehumanisation that have been allowed to continue without consequence have finally brought a people to their breaking point.

Pax Christi International joins the many voices pleading for an immediate end to the fighting. The cycle of violence which has shattered so many lives and dreams, must stop now.

Vengeful retaliation by either side will only lead to more bloodshed while extinguishing any hope for a just and sustainable peace.

A new path, one based on nonviolence and adherence to the rules of international law is the only way forward. It is time for old narratives to be transformed into a new reality. We call on all parties, supported and encouraged by the international community, to replace weapons with honest dialogue and create a new paradigm that is based on a commitment to recognise the inalienable rights of the other to flourish and live with dignity, security, and freedom in the land they call home.