Photo from One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONEC)/FACEBOOK
BACOLOD CITY — Four bishops from different Christian denominations in Negros have called for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.
The One Negros Ecumenical Council (ONE-C), composed of bishops from the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), and the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP), has released a solidarity message on Friday, April 12, saying they stand together with those suffering in Palestine.
Palestine, an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, comprises parts of modern Israel along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The four bishops said Gaza remained under siege and the principle of proportionality under International Humanitarian Law had been violated day after day with impunity.
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“Despite the denial of this occupation by some countries who could play a significant part to help stop the violence, peoples across the globe, including international humanitarian agencies, continue to clamor for an immediate ceasefire,” they said.
“Israel, one of the world’s top military powers and one of the few nuclear powers, has unleashed daily massacres, assaults, harassments, abductions, and summary executions in Gaza over these last months,” they added.
The ONE-C solidarity statement was signed by San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza – its chairperson; IFI Right Reverend Virgilio Amihan, co-chairperson; UCCP Bishop Feliciana Tenchavez, council member; and IFI Right Reverend Allan Caparro, Negros Oriental provincial coordinator.
The bishops also called for the release of all hostages, saying they grieved with the people in Palestine and encouraged all people of faith to help end the widespread and blatant attacks against civilians.
“Our prayers are with the people of Palestine. We envision a future where they are liberated from oppression and able to reconstruct their society in peace, recognized for their sovereignty and self-determination,” they said.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place in and around the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023. when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.
After clearing the militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion.