Christian Leaders in Jerusalem and Jewish Leaders in US Condemn Trump’s Plan to Remove Palestinians from Gaza

Two recent statements from heads of churches in  Jerusalem and hundreds of rabbis in the US have strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to have the US take over Gaza and force the Palestinian people in Gaza to go to other countries. 

A joint Statement strongly denouncing Trump’s proposal for Gaza was issued by  the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem–signed by leaders of the Greek, Armenian, Coptic, Syrian, and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches in addition to Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and other leaders on  February 14. It decries the immense suffering of Gaza’s people  and  firmly rejects the idea of forcibly relocating Palestinians in Gaza to other countries.  Noting that they are the “...custodians of the Christian faith and conscience in this sacred land,” the leaders wrote, “We raise our voices in sorrow and steadfast resolve in the face of the ongoing suffering in Gaza.” Their criticism was echoed by many in the US and world leaders, including human rights experts at the United Nations, who have noted  that forcible transfer is a grave war crime.

Also, on February 13th, a full page ad in the New York Times signed by more than 350 American rabbis and other prominent Jewish public figures stated that, “Jewish people say no to ethnic cleansing.” One signatory of the ad, Rabbi Yosef Berman of New Synagogue Project in Washington, D.C., told the publication Common Dreams (Feb. 13) that "Jewish teaching is clear: Trump is not God and cannot take away Palestinians inherent dignity or steal their land for a real estate deal. Trump's desire to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza is morally abhorrent. Jewish leaders reject Trump's attempts to wring profit from displacement and suffering and must act to stop this heinous crime."

PCAP Board members join and amplify  these voices and others in strongly denouncing President Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and call for a substantive increase in the flow of humanitarian aid.