AS PEOPLE of faith, we cannot stand idly by as an onslaught of bombings, injuries and destruction rain down upon the people of Gaza. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principles of proportionality and distinction between civilians and combatants have already been grossly crossed.
We urge for a humanitarian cessation of hostilities and pray that a calm may prevail towards a re-imagining of what can move humanity towards Just Peace in Palestine and Israel!
We must address the root causes of the armed conflict between Palestinian and Israeli parties.
The ballyhoo of âannihilation as a means of defenseâ must be condemned as inhuman, as the resultant war footings are sure to spur further violations of IHL.
We believe in standing with the oppressed. Having said this, we also see that it is important to delineate that victims can also become oppressors of others. Victimhood is never a permission for violating the human rights and dignity of others. Past war crimes will not justify present ones.
As people of faith, we urge that religion, and the practice thereof, should call us to building peace that is based on justice. Whatever our limits, weaknesses and failures in articulating and upholding human rights and International Humanitarian Law, let us not be ensnared in silence or caught in inaction as women, children, and men are consumed by indiscriminate bombings with their lives upturned and their communities sent into hapless disarray and vulnerability.
Ceasefire now! Let cooler heads prevail to negotiate the release of hostages, prisoners of war, and arbitrarily detained persons in Palestine and Israel.
Stop the siege of Gaza! No more bombings! Uphold human rights and International Humanitarian Law!
Just peace for Palestine and Israel! â ONE FAITH ONE NATION ONE VOICE <simbahanparasakatarungan@gmail.com>
