Dear Friend, 

As Quakers, we seek a world free of war and the threat of war. We earnestly believe a peaceful world is the world of the future, provided we do our part. Still, even the most cursory review of the news makes clear that there is a lot more work to do.

That is not to say we lack any progress. Through the Geneva Conventions, rules of war have been made and agreed upon. Hospitals must not be targeted. Weapons of mass destruction must not be used. The list goes on.

Still, some leaders have opted to ignore some of these basic human rights provisions. Today, however, the International Court of Justice issued a ruling urging Israel to take action to protect civilian life in Gaza. We welcome this decision and reaffirm our commitment to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza to end the humanitarian disaster. The ruling also underscores the urgent need for the world to engage in peaceful resolution and not turn a blind eye to the ongoing suffering in the region.

This is a victory for peace, and for those who believe the path to a peaceful future is through talking, listening, and understanding. Not shooting, bombing, and hostage taking.

Soon we will see votes in both the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly. These will cover calls for a permanent ceasefire, increased aid delivery, and perhaps arms sales to Israel. FCNL supports all votes that would end the conflict, protect civilians, return hostages, and begin the difficult work of long-term peace and progress.

Please join us.

Elsewhere

Sen. Hawley Urges Attention to Radiation Victims Following “Oppenheimer” Oscar Nominations
Following the nomination of “Oppenheimer” for 13 Oscar Awards this week, Sen. Josh Hawley (MO) is urging Hollywood to put the spotlight on Americans still reeling from radiation exposure caused by U.S. nuclear weapons testing. We applaud Sen. Hawley’s efforts and continue to urge Congress to act to ensure funding for victims through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) is not allowed to expire this year.

Lawmakers Raise Serious Concerns Over Ongoing Yemen Strikes and Escalating Violence
As violence continues to escalate in the Middle East, Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Sen. Tim Kaine (VA), and dozens of other lawmakers are raising serious concerns over the continuation of unauthorized U.S. strikes in Yemen. As FCNL’s Hassan El-Tayyab told Al-Jazeera, a ceasefire in Gaza is urgently needed to de-escalate tensions and prevent the violence across the region from spiraling into a broader war.

FCNL Staff Returns from Faith Leaders Trip to the Middle East
This week, FCNL’s General Secretary Bridget Moix and Legislative Director for Middle East Policy Hassan El-Tayyab returned from a trip to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Lebanon with a delegation of other faith leaders and peacebuilders. “An immediate comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed to save not only Palestinians and Israelis, but to preserve our common humanity,” Bridget said following the trip. Stay tuned for more of Bridget and Hassan's reflections and takeaways from what they saw in the region.

Peacebuilders in Sudan Need International Support
FCNL’s peacebuilding team spoke with Sudanese activist Enass Muzamel about her work supporting women and girls impacted by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. As FCNL’s Lauren Evans wrote, “it’s natural to focus more on the conflicts that fill the news,” but we “will not forget Sudan and those persevering for peace there.” Check out Lauren’s reflection and learn more about what U.S.-based advocates can do to support the courageous work of local activists like Enass.

 

	Sincerely, Tim McHugh Director of Media Relations
	Bryan Bowman Social Media and Digital Communications Manager

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