The escalation of execrable violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories is again in the world’s spotlight. Among the many statements being offered in response are those from Christian communities and ecumenical bodies. These reflect a diversity of approaches and viewpoints, a reminder, among much else besides, that catholicity does not equate to univocality. In most instances, these give some visible expression to the aspirations of those whose lives remain marked by a struggle to bring discord, division, fear, and violence to an end; that is, some expression of the hopes promised in the gospel.

Ecumenical and Interchurch Statements

• 1988 Statement by the Heads of Christian Communities in Jerusalem (22 January 1988)
• 1989 Statement by the Heads of the Christian Communities in Jerusalem (26 April 1989)
• World Council of Churches: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Sharing the Land, the Truth and the Peace (17 October 2000)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on Israel’s Obligations as Occupying Power (5 December 2001)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on the Conflict in Israel-Palestine (19 May 2006)
• World Council of Churches: The Amman Call (2007)
• World Council of Churches: Bern Perspective (2008)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on the Gaza War (20 February 2009)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2 September 2009)
• A Moment of Truth: A Word of Faith, Hope, and Love from the Heart of Palestinian Suffering (The Kairos Document) (11 December 2009)
• World Council of Churches: Concern over Violence in Gaza (11 July 2014)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on Gaza (22 July 2014)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on Situation in Israel and Palestine (18 November 2015)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Peace Process (28 June 2016)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on 50 Years of Occupation (11 June 2017)
• ACT Alliance, The Lutheran World Federation, The World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the World Council of Churches: Ecumenical Statement on the Planned Annexation of Occupied Palestinian Territory (29 June 2020)
• World Council of Churches: Statement on Israel and Palestine (12 May 2021)
• Kairos Palestine and Global Kairos for Justice: A Dossier on Israeli Apartheid: A Pressing Call to Churches Around the World (2022)
• World Council of Churches: Seeking Justice and Peace for All in the Middle East (8 September 2022)
• The Iona Community Israel/Palestine Common Concern Network (October 2023)
• The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, Call for Peace and Justice Amidst Unfolding Violence (7 October 2023)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada: Statement on War in the Holy Land (8 October 2023)
• World Communion of Reformed Churches: A Call for Peace and Justice (9 October 2023)
• The National Association of Evangelicals: Statement (9 October 2023)
• World Evangelical Alliance: Statement on the Holy Land Conflict (9 October 2023)
• Kairos Palestine: Statement on the War on Gaza (11 October 2023)
• World Council of Churches: Calls for a New Approach to the Conflict in Palestine and Israel (13 October 2023)
• Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem: Statement on the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza (13 October 2023)
• Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Joins United Nations in Call Not to Ignore Gazans “Dying at the World’s Watch” (13 October 2023)
• Jordan Evangelical Council: Statement (14 October 2023)
• World Council of Churches: Calls for Immediate Ceasefire, Urgent Humanitarian Aid for Gaza (15 October 2023)
• Interfaith Leaders Join Call for Ceasefire (16 October 2023)
• Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem: Statement (17 October 2023)
• Free Churches Group (UK): Statement on Israel–Palestine (17 October 2023)
• The Council of Local Evangelical Churches in the Holy Land: Statement (18 October 2023)
• World Council of Churches: General Secretary Letter to the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & the Middle East on the attack to Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza (18 October 2023)
• Middle East Council of Churches: About the War of Extermination Against the Palestinian People in Gaza (18 October 2023)
• Parliament of the World’s Religions: Official Statement on the Israel-Hamas War (19 October 2023)
• National Council of Churches in Australia: Public Statement on Hamas Israel Armed Conflict, on behalf of Anglican Church of Australia, Antiochian Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Chinese Methodist Church of Australia, Churches of Christ in Australia, Congregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Coptic Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Indian Orthodox Church, Quakers Australia, The Salvation Army, Uniting Church in Australia, and Australian Baptist Ministries (20 October 2023)
• An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians (20 October 2023)
• Anglican and Catholic Bishops of Aotearoa New Zealand: Joint Anglican–Catholic Bishops’ Statement on Israel–Palestine Conflict (20 October 2023)
• Religions for Peace Australia: Ending the Conflict in Israel and Palestine (23 October 2023)
• Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network (PIEN), Palestinian Christians in Australia, and Friends of Sabeel Australia: Joint public statement on the current escalation of violence in Palestine/Israel (31 October 2023)
• Victorian Council of Churches: A Statement on Israel and Gaza Conflict (6 November 2023)
• Declaration by the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Catholic Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) on the situation in [the] Middle East (7 November 2023)

Other

• Pope Pius XII: In Multiplicibus Curis (24 October 1948)
• Pope John Paul II to Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel (16 June 1997)
• Pope John Paul II to Mr Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority (16 June 1997)
• Pope John Paul II to the young people of Israel and Palestina (22 September 1999)
• Methodist Conference (UK): Statement on Justice for Palestine and Israel (2010)
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Kairos Palestine Document and A Study Guide (2011)
• Shalom United Church of Christ, New Haven, Connecticut, Declaration for a Just Peace Between Palestine and Israel (July 2021)
• General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada (July–August 2023)
• Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba: Statement on the Church’s Resolution on Israel/Palestine (28 September 2023)
• Baptist World Alliance: Call to Prayer (October 2023)
• The Methodist Church (UK): Hamas Attacks in Israel (October 2023)
• Anglican Archbishop of York: Statement on the Violence in Israel and Gaza (7 October 2023)
• Fellowship of Reconciliation: Statement from the Oldest Peace Group in the U.S. on the Outbreak of Another Gaza War (7 October 2023)
• Statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (7 October 2023)
• Statement from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (7 October 2023)
• Church of Scotland: Call to Prayer for Peace in Israel and Palestine (8 October 2023)
• United Methodist Council of Bishops Condemn Violence in Middle East; Call for Prayer, Action (9 October 2023)
• Association of Baptist Churches in Israel: Prayer Requests (11 October 2023)
• Southern Baptist Convention: Evangelical Statement in Support of Israel (11 October 2011)
• Christian Reformed Church (USA): Statement on Israel–Palestine Conflict (11 October 2023)
• Presbyterian Peace Fellowship: Statement on Israel and Gaza (11 October 2023)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Statement on Middle East Violence (12 October 2023)
• Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: Statement to the Catholic Faithful in Canada on the Recent Escalation of Conflict in the Holy Land (12 October 2023)
• The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts: Bishops’ Statement on Israel and Palestine (13 October 2023)
• Kairos Canada: Ecumenical statement on the escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel (13 October 2023)
• Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury: Statement on Israel and Gaza (13 October 2023)
• Melbourne Anglican Synod Condemns Violence Against Civilians in Israel and Gaza (14 October 2023)
• Archbishop Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem (14 October 2023)
• Helen Paynter, Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence: On Israel, Hamas, and Theological Responsibility (17 October 2023)
• Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem: Statement (17 October 2023)
• Unitarian Universalist Association: Statement on the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza and Israel (17 October 2023)
• Quaker Organizations Call for a Ceasefire and Humanitarian Protections in Gaza (17 October 2023)
• Christians Condemn Bombing of Gaza Anglican Hospital (18 October 2023)
• World Lutheran Federation: Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives (18 October 2023)
• Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Statement (19 October 2023)
• Anglican Diocese of Perth: A Statement from Archbishop Geoffrey Smith on the war in Israel/Palestine (19 October 2023)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Statement (20 October 2023)
• Jehovah’s Witnesses: Armed Conflict Continues in Israel and the Gaza Strip (23 October 2023)
• Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire in the Holy Land (29 October 2023)
• Anglican Church of Southern Africa: Statement on Gaza and Israel (30 October 2023)
• Project Ploughshares: Statement (30 October 2023)
• The Church of England: Statement from the House of Bishops on the War in Gaza (31 October 2023)
• Mennonite Church Canada Palestine Israel Network: Statement on Gaza (updated 1 November 2023)
• Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Gravely concerned over Israeli shelling targeting of civilian infrastructure in Gaza (2 November 2023)
• Uniting Church in Australia echoes calls for an immediate ceasefire (15 November 2023)

Please include any further such statements in the comments below and I will add these to the list.