Ceasefire now: Biden Administration’s response inadequate to catastrophe in Gaza, says CMEP

The following statement was issued Nov. 3 by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), of which the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are founding members. A Global Ministries web page is tracking statements from CMEP and other partners on the crisis, as well as links to other resources. Both the UCC and the Disciples have issued appeals, calling for support for partners and for advocacy. Read more about the UCC appeal here, and the Disciples’ appeal here.

The devastating Oct. 7 murder of nearly 1,400 Israelis and internationals by Hamas does not justify the displacement of 1.5 million people, more than sixty percent of the population, in Gaza – many of whom are refugees already; the indiscriminate impact upon civilians by large-scale bombing; the destruction of hospitals, churches, cultural centers and other infrastructure. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the death toll in Gaza as of November 2 is 9,061, more than 60 percent of whom are women and children. The total number of Palestinian children killed totals 3,760. The mass slaughter of civilians by any party to the conflict is unacceptable and must stop. The lives of all people, be they Israelis or Palestinians, must be protected. 

The results of the White House’s efforts have been unacceptable as it has not pressed enough to provide life-sustaining relief. The Biden Administration overstates the success of humanitarian measures and instead significantly exaggerates its very limited support toward meeting the catastrophic needs that exist on the ground. Since Oct. 8, Israel has cut off nearly all of the water, gas and electricity from Gaza, putting even more pressure on a population that was already suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Before Oct. 7, due to the longstanding blockade, the average number of trucks needed in Gaza was more than 500 per day, five days a week, to keep malnutrition at bay, to provide basic medical supplies, and meet basic needs. As of Nov. 2, only 374 trucks with food, water, and medical aid, over a 13-day period, have been allowed into Gaza through the Rafah crossing. Many hospitals in Gaza have run out of fuel and cannot treat patients. According to OCHA, currently, 14 out of 35 hospitals with inpatient capacities are not functioning, and 71% of all primary care facilities across Gaza cannot operate due to damage or lack of fuel.

Now is the time for principled and strong leadership. The United States must end its complicity in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the collective punishment against millions of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The U.S. must demand that the Government of Israel stop the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people to prevent more death, destruction and displacement. The White House’s unwillingness to support an end to the assault has already had devastating effects on people in Gaza and beyond. The White House, including officials from the National Security Council, have argued that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas. CMEP rejects this assumption and instead asserts a ceasefire would help to ensure that no additional Palestinian or Israeli lives are lost. We believe an end to the military campaign is also in the best interest of the United States, Israel, and all those who affirm the value of human life. CMEP reiterates our call for the White House to push – as immediate first steps – for an immediate ceasefire, for the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages held in Gaza, and for the immediate and adequate flow of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Beyond those minimum requirements, the root causes must be addressed, and the decades-long occupation of the Palestinian people must be brought to an end.

Each passing hour brings news of more bombings and deaths in Gaza. Each passing hour brings news of more violence with impunity by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The current posture of the United States government is contributing to the ongoing dehumanization and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people in Gaza. The United States must end its complicity immediately and show support for the protection of all human life, advocating for a just and durable resolution to this crisis in which all Israelis and Palestinians might realize a vision of a just peace, illuminating human dignity, advancing security and self-determination for all.

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