GC45 SW05 Peace Through Equal Rights in Israel/Palestine for Summer 2025

Origin: Palestine Network – Shining Waters Region

1. What is the issue? Why is it important?

The United Church of Canada, trusting in the value and dignity of all as creations of the Holy One, supports equal rights and the rule of law, including international law. 

2. What is happening now?

Palestinians are suffering from over seventy-five years of displacement and expulsion, almost sixty years of illegal occupation by the State of Israel, repeated attacks over the ensuing decades and now well over a year of continuous warfare, detention and starvation against the residents of Gaza and continuing assaults by settlers and Israeli Defence Forces in the West Bank, while thousands of Israelis are mourning the deaths or capture of loved ones on October 7, 2023. Human rights have been, and are being routinely ignored, and existing Israeli law privileges the rights of some over others. 

3. What is the recommendation?

That the 45th General Council condemn and lament that Israeli noncombatants were killed and taken hostage in the Hamas-led attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, and also lament and condemn the scale and scope of the Israeli government’s ensuing military response in Gaza, which resulted in injury and death to many thousands of noncombatants, and in the vast destruction of civil society and infrastructure there; and  

That the 45th General Council condemn the increasing seizure of land and the escalating military and Settler violence and murders of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank; and  

That the 45th General Council reaffirm its call for the building of a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis, with mutually negotiated solutions ending an inherently unjust and unstable military occupation, upholding the principle that no peoples’ right to self-determination should be exercised at the expense of another’s and assuring equal rights, freedom, security, and self-determination for all. 

4. Background information:

The asymmetric nature of the conflict in the Middle East is well-documented. Details about the suffering of different people there can be obtained from United Church global partners Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Centre for Women, B’Tselem, Wi’am, Defence of Children International – Palestine, and from dozens of peace and human rights organizations working in Israel and Palestine such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.  

5. How does this proposal help us live into our church's commitments on equity?

The United Church has long upheld the right of Palestinians to live in peace and dignity. This proposal reaffirms that support and calls on congregations and other communities of faith to add their voices to the call for a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel. This proposal builds on the Justice Principles for advocacy work of The United Church of Canada as the foundation of a principle-based approach to Palestine-Israel, namely the principles of antioppression; truth-telling; respect for human dignity; full participation and decolonization;  costly and prophetic solidarity; and equity, mutuality, respect and reparations.


For the body transmitting this proposal to the General Council: 
Please select the appropriate option and provide the key discussion points for items being forwarded to the General Council: 
☑ Agree
☐ Disagree without forwarding to the General Council
☐ Disagree and forwarding to the General Council

If you have questions regarding this proposal, please send them to: GCinfo@united-church.ca