The leadership of ACT Alliance, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Caritas Internationalis had planned a solidarity visit to Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza from 5-9 of August to witness the humanitarian, psychological and social impact of the ongoing war. Recent events in the region have forced the organisations to postpone their travels. Despite the inability to hold in-person meetings, the leadership of ACT Alliance, the WCC and Caritas Internationalis held a two-day digital meeting on August 7-8 with key actors, churches and families to express their support to the populations facing hardships and deliver a strong message of peace.
“We are witnessing the extinction of a community”
During a digital solidarity visit to the Holy Land, the leadership of ACT Alliance, the World Council of Churches (WCC), and Caritas Internationalis met with local NGOs and humanitarians working on the ground. The meeting aimed to discuss the escalating violence, gather facts about the situation, and explore what can be done internationally to help de-escalate the crisis.
“It’s a pleasure to be here and see familiar faces. It’s a pity we cannot meet in person, but we must work together to make that happen soon,” said the General Secretary of ACT Alliance during the meeting’s opening.
Participants reported that the situation in Gaza is desperate, with residents feeling abandoned by the international community. One organization working in education shared that campuses and universities have been bombed. Students are forced to attend classes online, but with limited internet access. Despite being displaced, the organization’s 36 staff members continue to provide psychosocial support to children.
Another organization reported a strong sense of hopelessness. Their support for hundreds of families, especially Christian ones, they said, is only “a drop in the ocean.” They emphasized the need for long-term thinking, as the crisis is likely to persist.
“It’s hard to accept that the Christian community in Gaza is being emptied out. This is truly sad. The Christian community has a historical presence in Gaza, and this is a devastating blow,” a participant remarked.
A Gaza resident and humanitarian worker, whose family are now displaced in Gaza, put the war in historical context: “The Palestinian suffering did not start in 2023. It took this war for the world to acknowledge it. Today, we are witnessing the consequences of decades of Israel’s impunity. People in Gaza don’t enjoy any of the rights that international law grants civilians, even in wartime. Currently, there is an exodus, especially among Christians. We are witnessing the extinction of a community.”
There was a consensus that more must be done to stop the daily, blatant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
“In Jerusalem and the West Bank,” one participant reported, “we are witnessing levels of frustration and trauma that we have never experienced before, especially among children. The political violence has reached unprecedented levels. Even cultural events that dare to mention Gaza are being shut down by the police. The atmosphere is poisoned.”
“The harassment we face as Palestinians and Christians is tremendous,” another participant concluded.
In the West Bank, the military is using drones and helicopters to target Palestinian militants, particularly young people. Many communities have been attacked by well-organized and armed settlers, forcing residents to flee and become internally displaced persons (IDPs). Those with foreign passports are leaving the country. The expectation is that the situation will worsen.
“It’s clear that the world is facing a severe moral crisis. The international community is failing to speak out, and the United Nations Security Council is paralyzed. Even many religious leaders are unable to provide the prophetic and moral voices needed to end these atrocities. It’s extremely frustrating to see that we are losing our humanity. As faith-based organizations, we have a responsibility not only to provide humanitarian relief but also to speak truth to power,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, reacting to the reports from humanitarians and organizations during the digital visit.
“There has never been a genocide in history covered 24/7 like what is happening in Gaza. No one can claim, ‘I did not know,’” said a participant. “We are currently like Germany in the late 1930s and 1940s. We hide behind the word ‘complexities’ to avoid facing the truth. This moral struggle is not only about Palestine; it’s about the dilemma of remaining human,” another participant poignantly concluded.
