The Salvation Army grieves deeply the ongoing loss of life and human suffering in Gaza. We recognize the desolation of its people and the profound sorrow of families who have lost loved ones. The displacement of millions, the plight of hostages and the anguish of their families weigh heavily on the hearts of the people of The Salvation Army.

Every life is sacred, and every act of violence leaves a scar on our shared humanity. As a people of faith and conscience, The Salvation Army calls for an immediate release of the remaining hostages and a sustained ceasefire that ensures protection, security, support and a viable future for all people in the region.

We also recognize the human toll in conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel region of Africa (including Burkina Faso and Mali), Syria, Myanmar, and in the Russo-Ukrainian war and elsewhere. We urge all parties in all conflicts to rethink their positions and, for the sake of their own people, to pursue pathways of peace, justice, reconciliation and healing. The protection of the innocent—especially children, the elderly and the vulnerable—must be paramount.

We ask that world leaders exert strong moral courage to continue working alongside the regions’ leaders to bring a swift end to the conflicts and open pathways toward lasting peace.

“The promise of Jesus is that peace is possible,” said General Lyndon Buckingham, international leader of The Salvation Army. “My heartfelt prayer is that peace will be immediate and comprehensive in Gaza and throughout the world; that the desolation will cease and a profound goodwill toward one another will shape the future of humankind. Amid the complexity, I urge the citizens of the world to pray for peace and a new desire to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’.”

Photo: Mohammed Ibrahim via Unsplash