Israel/Palestine

After more than six weeks of horrific violence, it’s welcome news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to exchange dozens of hostages and commit to a pause in the fighting. These exchanges acknowledge the inherent value of every single civilian, whether they are Israeli or Palestinian.

As the crisis in Israel and Palestine deepens, the students at RFS sent the following letter to members of Congress. In it, they urge lawmakers to prioritize a ceasefire, protect the lives of innocent children, and secure humanitarian aid. They ask: “Is it justifiable for us to endure life under occupation, live in constant fear, and be haunted by the unsettling presence of settlers in our dreams?”

We remain profoundly disturbed by the ongoing violence in the region and Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza. Yet, we are inspired that with each passing day, the movement for peace continues to grow stronger. Our voices demanding a ceasefire are being heard and are making a difference.

Albuquerque Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) join with the national and international community of Friends, represented by the American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Quaker United Nations office, Canadian Friends Service Committee, British Yearly Meeting (British Quakers), and expressed through their letter of October 17, 2023, in “calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access to the civilian population of Gaza.” As a faith community committed to peace and justice, we also join in their call for “action to address the underlying injustice of occupation and inequalities underlying this situation in the long term.” We note that since the release of the October 17 letter, the civilian death toll in Gaza has risen to over 9,000 persons and continues to rise by the day and hour.

We urge our government to call for an immediate ceasefire, immediate and adequate humanitarian aid, and negotiations for a long-term peace.

With a new Speaker finally installed in the House, funding the government past its Nov. 17 extended deadline is the most pressing item on Congress’s agenda. Lawmakers and their staff are making decisions right now that will shape the spending debate in the coming weeks.

The future for Palestinians and Israelis is being erased each passing day.

Quakers believe in the sacred worth of each person and stand against violence in all its forms. As Quaker organizations, we mourn all lives lost and lament with everyone who is suffering. We grieve for those in Israel and Palestine who have lost precious lives. We pray with those waiting for the return of loved ones and those living under siege and bombardment.

As Quaker organizations, we mourn all lives lost and lament with everyone who is suffering.

The statement, led by prominent Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Arab-American groups. condemns all violence against civilians by Hamas and the Israeli military, urges policymakers to publicly call for a ceasefire; and urges all parties to fully respect international humanitarian law.