Church leaders in the Nordic churches are calling for peace, justice, and humanitarian action in Israel and Palestine. Photo: Nadine Marfurt via Unsplash
Affirming the urgent need for a ceasefire
(LWI) - Church leaders across the Nordic countries have raised their voices in a united call for peace, justice, and humanitarian action in Israel and Palestine. In statements issued last week, bishops from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, as well as leaders of Christian churches in Denmark express grave concern about the escalating violence and catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. With one voice, they affirm the urgent need for a ceasefire.
The five statements convey a deep pastoral concern and a theological conviction that violence cannot bring lasting solutions.
The Swedish bishops declare: The war “has long since gone beyond all reasonable proportionality [...] even if the war is won, peace is lost.”
The bishops of the Church of Norway warn of a humanitarian and moral collapse: “The trauma inflicted on children will mark them for the rest of their lives. [...] There can be no peace until all who live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea [...] enjoy equal rights and the same opportunity to live in peace and safety.”
The Icelandic bishops stress the moral responsibility to speak and act: “Violence… can never bring resolution—violence itself is the problem.”
With its statement, the National Council of Churches in Denmark, responds to calls from church leaders in Jerusalem: “Let us all once again commit ourselves to working and praying together… to realize the sacred vision of peace among all God’s children.”
In Finland, the bishops called for concrete action: “We appeal to Israel and Hamas to immediately declare a ceasefire.” We call on “Hamas to release all hostages without delay and return the deceased to their families,” and “Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to reach those who are suffering.”
