Support Just Peace in Palestine and Israel

What We Believe

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow,” (Isaiah 1:17)

As people of faith, we bring the grief, compassion, and concerns of a hurting world to God. We are called into bold discipleship that leads to daring justice!

In the context of violent atrocities and international crimes—especially those that target civilians and directly affect global partners and their communities—this means we are called to:

• amplify the voices of partners;
• raise our spirited voices in outrage and solidarity; and
• advocate for Canada to do everything in its power to help end the violence.

What You Can Do

People in Gaza are experiencing utter destruction, loss of life, and inhumane conditions without access to necessities for life. Famine is imminent. Children are particularly impacted. In Occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Israeli settlers and the Israeli military forcibly displace and dispossess Palestinians of their lands, their homes, and their rights. Canada must not be complicit in genocide, ethnic cleansing, and famine.

Transformative justice work is long-term; our responsibility is to create and seize any opportunities to speak truth, amplify the voices of those who are directly affected and most vulnerable, and to encourage those in power to support a just peace!

Please join us in action: advocate, pray, educate and donate.

Act

The situation in Palestine and Israel is evolving at breakneck speed. The advocacy tools and approaches provided here can’t keep pace with the changing context on the ground.  We invite you to use the templates in this section and update them with the latest developments from the Related News section below.

Under downloads below is a template email to help start you off (last updated March 2025). Don’t forget to keep us informed by copying 

We are asking the Canadian Government to do everything it can to:

1. Support a guaranteed long-term, meaningful ceasefire; reinforced by a comprehensive two-way Canada-Israel arms embargo.*
2. Secure unhindered humanitarian assistance/relief —including from The United Church of Canada Mission and Service partners—which urgently and abundantly needs to reach those in need.
3. Foster the conditions for a just and lasting peace —where safety, respect for rights, justice, and human dignity for all is ensured and upheld, without exception. This requires an end to the occupation, strict and unwavering compliance with international law, respect for international human rights and humanitarian institutions and the right to self-determination.

*The United Church of Canada is part of the #ArmsEmbargoNow campaign. TThe campaign site has helpful resources and additional ways to take action.

For more tips, visit our Faith in Politics page or join our justice network Succeed at Advocacy on CHURCHx.

Pray

Pray for peace with justice for the people of Palestine and Israel. Additional prayers can be found here and at Canadian Council of Churches.

Links to traditional Palestinian music can be found with materials for World Day of Prayer 2024 Palestine.

Donate

Online via our secure donation page.

The Work of Partners

Many United Church Mission and Service global partners work to support peace in Palestine and Israel. Here are some of the ways partners are involved.

• An essential part of our witness is to amplify the voices of global partners and vulnerable and marginalized people, as you’ll see from this letter written by Kairos Palestine.
• For more about global partners see:
  • Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP)
  • Wi'am: Palestinian Centre for Reconciliation and Transformation
  • Sabeel: Palestinian Liberation Theology Centre
  • B'Tselem: Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
  • United Church global partners

For more information, contact 

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