In a powerful and unequivocal statement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has denounced what it terms Israeli apartheid in Gaza, calling for immediate action in the form of targeted sanctions, divestment, and arms embargoes. The Central Committee of the WCC, meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, expressed deep anguish over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Palestine and accused Israel of severe violations of international law, potentially amounting to genocide, reported the PalestinianPulse.
The WCC is a global fellowship representing 352 churches from over 120 countries, with more than 580 million Christians under its umbrella. Its statement referred to the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza as a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, both of which prohibit targeting civilians and ethnic persecution.
Quoting the Book of Amos — “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” — the WCC criticized the ongoing bloodshed as a betrayal of basic human morality and justice. The statement made clear that its condemnation targets the Israeli government’s policies, not the Jewish people, and emphasized its opposition to all forms of racism, including antisemitism, anti-Arab racism, and Islamophobia.
The WCC also highlighted the worsening situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Israel’s actions, including illegal settlement expansions and the suppression of Palestinian rights, continue in defiance of international legal standards, including the UN Charter, Geneva Conventions, and multiple UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
Declaring the need to “name the reality of apartheid,” the Council urged global churches and nations to impose meaningful consequences for Israel’s conduct. It called for support of the Palestinian right to self-determination, an end to the occupation, and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, which has been under siege for years.
The Council also voiced strong support for Palestinian Christians, urging efforts to safeguard their religious and cultural heritage in their homeland. It praised the South African government’s legal action at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. South Africa submitted 750 pages of evidence in December 2023, describing Israel’s conduct as a breach of the Genocide Convention.
In July 2024, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel’s actions amount to racial segregation and apartheid, declaring the occupation illegal, and outlining legal obligations for reparations to Palestinians.
Despite international pressure, Israel’s assault on Gaza continues, with GHF aid sites and other civilian areas being bombed, leaving at least 56,259 Palestinians dead and over 123,492 injured since October 2023. Thousands remain missing beneath the rubble, inaccessible due to ongoing airstrikes and the collapse of emergency services.
The WCC has urged churches worldwide to not remain silent. “It is time to witness, to speak out, and to act,” the statement concluded, demanding urgent international accountability and justice for the Palestinian people.
