“Pax Christi International stands with the people who brazenly demand justice, all the more if they are caught up in an asymmetric conflict in so many ways. We recommit ourselves to supporting all forms of nonviolent resistance and plead that the international community, instead of blaming, recognise and lift-up the truth of each side’s transgressions and longings. Peace may be elusive; it might hide from view, yet we hold on to a solitary truth that if truly desired it is not impossible.”

Pax Christi International, 2021

“Pax Christi International’s stand is that the occupation, dispossession, and profound human suffering, denial and lack of protection of rights and dignity of Palestinian people is unacceptable and calls for urgent concrete and lasting actions, as prolonged injustice only deepens the human suffering and further erodes the hope for a just and lasting peace.“

Pax Christi International, August 2025

A Palestinian Christian woman lights a candle in St. Porphyrios Church in Gaza.
Photo courtesy of Majdi Aljelda

As part of the wider Pax Christi community, Pax Christi USA advocates for a just peace in the Holy Land. Many Pax Christi USA members have traveled to or lived in the Occupied Territories; several were able to participate in the 2015 Pax Christi International world assembly in Bethlehem and subsequent pilgrimage which included visits to holy sites on the West Bank and in Israel; a Pax Christi International delegation in early 2023; the Stones Cry Out delegation in February-March 2024, and a Christians for Ceasefire delegation in August 2024.

We are heartbroken and angry about the violence taking place in Gaza and other areas around Israel and the Occupied Territories. As former Pax Christi USA Executive Director Johnny Zokovitch wrote, we are “deeply and tragically aware of the US government’s complicity in the conflict, its tacit support of the ongoing occupation by frustrating efforts to apply international law, and the unchecked military aid. As members of Pax Christi USA, we bear a special responsibility to holding the U.S. government to account, speaking out against military aid that will only lead to greater bloodshed, and demanding action on behalf of a ceasefire and the painstaking work to create a just peace rooted in equality, human rights, and dignity for all.”

Watch Jessica Sun, Bob Shine, and Scott Wright share about the delegation to Palestine in August 2024

Pax Christi USA members participated in an August 2024 Christians for Ceasefire delegation to Palestine: US delegation supports Palestinians fleeing West Bank violence, prays at Gaza border (National Catholic Reporter, August 23)

>>Want to join a delegation organized by Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)/Sabeel? Check out the FOSNA delegations webpage here to learn about upcoming trips and fill out their general interest form here.

Sign-on letter from US Catholics on Israel-Palestine open for endorsements (May 2024)

Below are resources for prayer, study and action. Archived items can be found here.

Prayer

Prayer for Israel and Palestine
God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation,
pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope,
oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces,
and peace and justice could be experienced by all.

The Reverend Said Ailabouni, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL

Study

Organizations

Pax Christi statements

Statements from bishops/religious

Analysis/essays

Webinars

Action

From CMEP: Urge Congress to support ceasefire, restraint, de-escalation

Use this action alert tool from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) to urge your member of Congress to work for an immediate end to all violence for restraint from all parties. A protracted Israeli military offensive, including a ground invasion, could result in considerably more deaths and a broader regional war. Half of the 2.2 million people of Gaza are children, who will suffer disproportionately.

From FOSNA: Solidarity with Palestinians and Jews Sign-on statement

All are invited to endorse this statement of solidarity, which was authored by Jonathan Kuttab, Palestinian Christian theologian, human rights lawyer, FOSNA and Nonviolence International; Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine; Rabbi Cat Zavis, Beyt Tikkun: A Synagogue without Walls, civil/women’s rights lawyer, and mediator; and Rabbi Esther Azar, Arab Jewish trauma activist.

Additional resources

Archived resources/events

Prayers

Statements

Reflections/essays

Archived action requests

in person Events/actions

2024

2023

  • October 18: Day of action organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now: Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, both Jewish-led organizations committed to justice for Palestinians, are organizing a day of action on Wednesday in Washington, DC near Capitol Hill, exact location to be determined, to urge the US government to push for a ceasefire and to stop financing Israeli militarism. If you are able to join the activities, use this link to respond.

Webinars