On Sunday night, Iran attacked Israel for the first time from its territory with long-range weapons. Most of the 300 or so missiles and drones were intercepted. Nevertheless, the night from April 13 to 14 showed that weapons of destruction do not differentiate between Israelis and Palestinians, between Jews, Christians and Muslims. If the drones and missiles from Iran had reached their targets, numerous Palestinians would have been hit and killed as well as Israelis.

We feared and prayed with the people of Israel and Palestine that night. We are especially united with our brothers and sisters from the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East: the EMS member church, which is an essential part of our international fellowship and whose needs and concerns we share.

Relieved that this further escalation of a long-lasting conflict has not led to major damage…

…we as an international fellowship reaffirm our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, and with all people who are suffering from war and many forms of violence in the Middle East for far too long and who long for peace.

…we call for an end to the war in Gaza with all its devastation, as well as all other acts of war and violence in the Middle East. Nothing can justify the countless civilian victims.

…we demand the immediate release of all Israeli hostages.

…we encourage all those who want peace in the Middle East to recognize the suffering of all victims. Denying the suffering of individual groups only serves to incite further hatred.

…we appeal to the political leaders to immediately resume talks with the aim of finding a solution that includes the security of Israel as well as the right to self-determination of the Palestinians.

…we are committed to combating hate against Israel, as propagated by Iran and other actors, just as we are committed to combating resolutely all other forms of anti-Semitism and group-focused misanthropy.

“In a world of confusion, we pray for God's wisdom. In a world of pain, we pray for God's healing. In a world of conflict, we pray for peace.” (from the intercession of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East in the EMS Prayer Calendar)