Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue Statement on Israel-Hamas War
The Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey (JCMD) devotes its activities to building on shared values and faith traditions with the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths and towards understanding each other in areas where there are differences. The JCMD provides zero tolerance for bigotry, hate, and injustice. In keeping with its mission and credo, the JCMD strongly condemns the brutal attack of the Hamas terrorist forces in Israel on October 7.
We deplore and grieve the many deaths of Israelis, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim, on October 7, and from the continuing constant barrage of deadly, terrifying rockets from Gaza. We grieve as well, the thousands of dead, wounded and displaced in Gaza, from Israel’s strikes at Hamas, which embeds its installations amid the civilian population. We recognize and feel the suffering of the Israeli families who grieve for those whom they have lost and for those who are awaiting word on their loved ones who are being held hostage by Hamas.
We recognize and feel the suffering of the innocent Palestinians in Gaza who are without sufficient supplies of life essentials of water, food, proper medical care, and fuel. We grieve along with the innocent residents of Gaza who have lost loved ones in this war.
We believe that the vast majorities of the people of Israel and Gaza want to develop their societies in peace and security, not the elimination of the other.
This brief statement of Jews, Muslims, and Christians cannot encompass the enormity of the history of Gaza, from either the Israeli or the Palestinian perspective. We can, as fellow human beings, together grieve the loss of so many innocent human lives in this war that has resulted from the Hamas attack on October 7. Together we hope and pray for a just and speedy end to this war, the end to the killing, the release of all hostages, and the ability of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to build their societies in peace and cooperation.
The JCMD takes this opportunity to also condemn hatred of Muslims and bigotry, and antisemitism everywhere. Whatever one’s views on the events in the Middle East, bigotry, scapegoating, and violence of any kind are always wrong and should always be avoided and universally condemned by all caring people.
For further information regarding our mission and activities and/or to become a member, please contact:
Ed Martin – edmartin15@comcast.net
Henry Maurer – henry.maurer9@gmail.com
Farhat Biviji –bvg786110@comcast.net
Adopted October 30, 2023