Statement on Gaza - Gulf South Affiliate Chapter
Gulf South Affiliate Chapter
The Maryknoll Sisters and Lay Missioners have written a joint letter expressing their deep concern on what is happening in Israel and Gaza. . Last week the Affiliate Gulf South Chapter came together to also write a thoughtful letter expressing their sadness and frustration over what is happening in Gaza. It is so well expressed (Marie Bastian, the primary author) that I think we can accept it as the statement from Affiliates at large. It has already receiving very positive feedback from several Maryknollers,
An Open Appeal for Support
After prayerful reflection on the essay “The Violence and Grief are Overwhelming,” (by Marie Dennis – Past President of Pax Christi USA), we Maryknoll Affiliates of the Gulf South Chapter used the synodal method of Conversation in the Spirit to individually articulate our tremendous distress concerning the carnage occurring in the Middle East. The sentiments expressed ranged from profound sadness and frustration to despair at witnessing another grievous cycle of bloodshed and destruction. The October 7th attack, launched within one day of the 50-year anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, underscored the escalating suffering being visited on generations of people who make their home in the Holy Land, including thousands of orphaned children. Decades of repeated cycles of violent attacks followed by brutal, disproportionate military responses have yielded a chronicle of continual injury and retribution. This war, as well as the earlier conflicts, have been fueled by despairing rage that blinds suffering people to each other’s pain and humanity.
Huge, painful questions of land ownership, power, and national identity are rooted in moral issues—respect, justice, and compassion. These questions can never be settled by violence. Legitimate human interests of both parties are set against each other—Israel’s right to a Jewish homeland as opposed to the Palestinian right to its own state; Israel’s right to defend itself versus the Palestinian population’s right to live free of the indignities of occupation; the Israeli right to security against the Palestinian right to self-determination. Such questions require dialog, mutual respect, and acknowledgement of each party’s human rights. Conflict resolution skills and training are needed to provide practical steps that can foster nonviolence as a genuine path to establishing peace. The intractable nature of this conflict cries out for a shift from the violence of war to a nonviolent approach. It has been deeply disappointing that the US government has supported this conflict by providing the resources fueling the atrocities taking place in Gaza.
We wish to add our voices to those urging that US aid to Israel be conditioned on:
Establishment of an immediate, sustained cease fire
Directing attention to negotiating the freedom of hostages and prisoners who are held without due process
Restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza,
Work toward a 2-state solution recognizing the right of Israel to exist and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Basic to resolving this conflict are the words of Pope Paul VI, “If you want peace, work for justice.” Fair treatment and acknowledgement of both Palestinian and Israeli rights are essential before real peace can be achieved. We join Pope Francis in advocating nonviolence as the means for achieving peaceful coexistence of the Israeli and Palestinian people in a shared land where the right to self-determination is assured for both populations.