Statement on Israel/Palestine
The GNPT exists to promote theological contributions to public conversations in local contexts with global perspectives. We foster scholarly exchange about the contribution of Christianity to public discourse. On 20th October 2023, twelve Palestinian Christian organisations wrote an open letter "to Western church leaders and theologians". In particular, they note that the Bible has been weaponised against Palestinians to justify their oppression, and they call upon church leaders and theologians to repent. The letter was written in the wake of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza following the attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7th October. In response, we condemn the targeting of civilians by any party. We note that the present conflict is to be seen in the context of 75 years of illegal occupation and apartheid (in accordance with the standards and definitions of the United Nations), and that Israel’s retaliation has, in the last year, killed at least 42,000 Palestinians (mostly women and children) and injured a further 97,000 who are at risk of death by starvation, infection and disease. The International Court of Justice has called the bombing of Gaza plausibly genocidal and condemns the increase in settler violence in the West Bank. The United Nations has called for an end of arms sales to Israel and for sanctions to be applied against Israel. As a global network of theologians, we stand against the use of theology to justify oppression, and we oppose both antisemitism and Islamophobia. We call for justice and peace for all people of all faiths. We are concerned by the spread of violence across Palestine and into Lebanon and the wider Middle East. We call for the international community to uphold international law, and to bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire. We call for the release of Israeli hostages and the freedom of Palestinians. We call on the members of the Network to do whatever they can to ease the suffering and work towards a just and peaceful solution, through scholarly engagement, diaconal support and public manifestation.
GNPT executive members
October, 2024
