RAMALLAH / Anadolu

The Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine welcomed the decision of the General Synod of the Church of England to adopt a proposal calling for engagement with Palestinian church documents, foremost among them the "Kairos Palestine" and "Second Kairos Palestine" documents.

The "Kairos Palestine" document, launched by Palestinian Christian figures in 2009, is considered one of the most prominent church documents calling for resistance to the Israeli occupation, support for international boycott of it, and its termination as a condition for achieving a just peace based on freedom and dignity for the Palestinian people.

The documents aim to enhance understanding of the reality in the occupied Palestinian territory and solidarity with Palestinian Christians in their peaceful resistance to the occupation.

The committee, headed by Ramzi Khouri, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said in a statement on Monday that the importance of the decision "stems from the historical and religious status that the Church of England enjoys as the official church in the country, and the presence and influence it represents in British public life."

It added that the participation of a number of church bishops in the House of Lords "gives the decision an important ecclesiastical and ethical dimension in discussions related to justice and peace."

It explained that the decision of the General Synod came following a visit by Archbishop of Canterbury Sara Mullally to Palestine weeks ago, where she met several Palestinian religious and political figures and learned about the reality of churches and Christian communities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The committee stressed that the decision "reflects the growing awareness within global churches of the reality of the situation in Palestine, and the importance of listening to the voice of Palestinian churches and their role in defending justice and human dignity."

It added that the decision contributes to "consolidating the values of peace based on truth and fairness, in line with the principles of international law and Christian values."

The committee praised the decision's inclusion of a call to study the Palestinian reality from various theological and legal aspects, and to review investment policies related to the occupied Palestinian territory, in light of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on July 19, 2024.

It also praised the call to work towards achieving a just and lasting peace that ensures security, rights, and dignity for all peoples.

The committee considered that the decision of the General Synod of the Church of England "represents an important step towards enhancing the role of global churches in defending justice and peace."

It called on international churches and Christian institutions to "continue listening to the voice of Palestinian churches and support efforts aimed at ending the occupation, achieving just and comprehensive peace, and preserving the Palestinian Christian presence in the Holy Land," according to the statement.

On July 4, the Archbishop of Sebastia for the Greek Orthodox, Archbishop Atallah Hanna, called on all Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian churches worldwide to adopt the "Kairos Palestine" document and take "more clear and courageous" humanitarian and ethical positions regarding the suffering of Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip.

Hanna criticized what he described as the satisfaction of some Western churches with "flowery diplomatic language" when addressing the suffering of Palestinians.

He said that the Israeli genocide war in Gaza "does not need diplomatic statements, but rather clear, courageous, and strong positions aimed at achieving justice, freedom, and ending the occupation."

During the genocide committed by Israel in the Strip since October 8, 2023, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 173,000 injured, along with widespread destruction affecting about 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.