Petition for Ceasefire in Gaza
Please join us in signing Mennonite Action’s petition for a ceasefire in Gaza. On January 16, 2024, Mennonites from all over the US will bring this petition to Washington, DC, where they will demonstrate peacefully for a permanent ceasefire. You can read and sign the petition below.
To: US Representatives
We, the signers below, are Mennonites living in the United States. Many of us are lifelong Mennonites; some of us found the church later in life. We are church congregants, pastors, faith leaders, and community members whose shared Anabaptist values call us to be peacemakers.
We were shocked and horrified by Hamas’ brutal attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7. And we are horrified by Israel’s continuing attacks on Palestinian civilians.
Over the past several months, we have watched in disbelief as the scale of violence in Palestine has reached staggering levels. Cities are in ruins. Children are trapped under the rubble. Hostages are being held captive. Hospitals are collapsing. Entire family lines have been wiped out. As bombs — funded by our tax dollars — rain down on Gaza, our hearts ache for the people of Palestine who are living through an unimaginable humanitarian crisis. At the time that this petition was written, the death toll of Palestinian civilians has surpassed 18,400 people, including over 6,600 children.
We cannot turn away. We cannot keep quiet. Our faith demands that we speak out.
Our Mennonite and Anabaptist values move us to advocate for peace. We understand as Christians that Jesus modeled active peacemaking and demonstrated that we have the power to nonviolently shape our world for good. We also believe it is our responsibility as Christians to stand up against violent theologies that promote antisemitism and Islamophobia. We believe that our own liberation is bound up in freedom for all people.
Together, as Mennonites, we add our names to this petition to make our voices heard. Specifically, we call on our representatives to:
- Sign on to Rep. Cori Bush’s Ceasefire Now Resolution and publicly demand a permanent ceasefire.
- Stop giving a blank check to Israel for weapons of war.
- Advocate for diplomacy and a political solution that ends the occupation of Palestine, and builds toward dignity for all Israelis and Palestinians.
We believe U.S. policymakers have a responsibility to do everything in their power to prevent more death and destruction, and advocate for a political solution that dignifies the lives of all Palestinians and Israelis.