Dear Palestinian friends in Christ,

We, the undersigned, are Christians from across Canada, now joined by Christians from other parts of the world, who have heard your Call for Repentance.  We send this initial response with contrite hearts and deep sorrow for the ways we have failed God, you, and all who are our family in faith in the land of the Holy One. 

We decry the devastating loss of life in Gaza, particularly the deaths of thousands of children, not yet counting those still buried underneath the rubble. We condemn the lack of moral and political leadership from our government. Millions of Canadians have repeatedly called for a permanent ceasefire by both Hamas and Israel, an immediate cessation of the ceaseless bombing of Gaza, and a corridor into Gaza for humanitarian aid.  While the vote of our government at the UN on December 12 to support a “humanitarian ceasefire” is encouraging, we know that even greater public action is needed if Canada is to be pressured into protecting the human rights and struggle of Palestinians for justice, security, freedom and dignity. 

As followers of Jesus, who taught love and compassion, we condemn all violence. We condemn the violent actions of Hamas in killing innocent civilians. We condemn the brutal and disproportionate acts of violence by the Israeli military intent on ethnically cleansing Gaza of Palestinians. We condemn the settler colonial actions perpetrated by the Israeli military and armed illegal settlers that cause ongoing death, destruction and forcible displacement in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Even as we say these words, we confess our complicity in the violence.

We acknowledge our complicity in the dehumanization of you as Palestinians, beginning with our apathy in the 1948 Nakba that displaced hundreds of thousands of your families from their homes and communities, and which continues with our ongoing complicity in the daily displacement of your families and neighbours today.

We acknowledge our failure to condemn the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. We confess that the actions and double standards of some Christian leaders have actively supported and justified the occupation. We confess that some among us have even legitimized Israel’s ongoing indiscriminate attacks on Gaza.

We confess that our colonial doctrines and the ways in which we read the Bible have been used to justify war, apartheid, discrimination and ethnic cleansing here in this land called Canada, and to tolerate and justify it in Palestine and other places. 

With groups like Independent Jewish Voices Canada and Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, the Canadian churches and grassroots Christian and ecumenical organizations have sought to amplify and strengthen our solidarity with you through written statements​, submissions to the Canadian government, letters, appeals, vigils, webinars, resources, and fundraising; yet more is required. To our shame, we have fallen short in living out costly solidarity. 

We commit to continue working with you to end the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. We commit to continue mobilizing our fellow Canadians for action. We commit to continue advocating to our federal government for a permanent ceasefire and for a process that will lead to a just peace. We commit to continuing to pray for you and your people.

We will work honestly and diligently in the days to come to respond fully to your Cry.

In humility,