AfP's Call to Action: Israel-Palestine
Publication last updated: February 2, 2024
The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP), a nonpartisan global peacebuilding network of 200+ organizational members operating in 181 countries working to end violent conflict and build sustainable peace, stands for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza by all parties to the conflict, urgent humanitarian access to deliver much-needed assistance, adherence to international humanitarian law, and the end of increasing settler violence in the West Bank. We also call for preventing and reducing the threat of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia globally. We call for the status quo no more; we must all demand that all parties to the conflict and the international community work toward an inclusive political solution that allows all people in the region to live in dignity and safety.
We strongly encourage all AfP members to endorse Save the Children and Oxfam’s open statement calling for an immediate ceasefire, which nearly 900 organizations—including AfP—and more than 1.2 million individuals have signed. Since October 7th, violence and humanitarian suffering in the region have reached unprecedented levels, including hostage-taking, the use of chemical weapons, the destruction of schools and hospitals, and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. In the first 100 days of the conflict, more than 10,000 children in Gaza were killed—1% of Gaza’s child population. Nearly 17,000 children in Gaza are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families amid the conflict.
We mourn peacebuilders we have lost, including Vivian Silver, a dedicated Canadian-Israeli peace activist who helped start the Alliance for Middle East Peace and founded two of its members, Women Wage Peace and the Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation. Joel Braunold, Managing Director at Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, stated, “She worked to influence policy and drove sick Palestinian children to their hospital appointments—showing how you could make a difference at every level. She built coalitions knowing that finding common ground even with those she had immense disagreements with was essential for change to occur, knowing that discomfort was part of the assignment.”
As peacebuilders, we must honor Vivian’s legacy and continue to amplify and support Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders. Every day, countless Israelis and Palestinians work together to build sustainable peace, but too often their stories go untold. These peacebuilders include AfP partners, such as the members of the Alliance for Middle East Peace—a network of over 170 peacebuilding organizations working to prevent conflict and build peace in the region—and Hands of Peace. But without resources, this work cannot be done. We call on the U.S. Congress to double peacebuilding funding in the region via the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) from $50 million per year to $100 million moving forward, as well as the inclusion of $25 million for MEPPA in supplemental funding for the region.
AfP, which leads the Prevention and Protection Working Group, released an atrocity risk assessment on the increasing violence in the West Bank in early December 2023, with recommendations for the U.S. Government to prevent and reduce violence in line with the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act and the U.S. Strategy to Anticipate, Prevent, and Respond to Atrocities. AfP welcomes the Biden Administration’s recent Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank. This Executive Order is a critical first step to reduce and prevent escalating violence in the West Bank, Israel, and the region.
As a result of the violent conflict, antisemitism and Islamophobia are increasing globally, and it is critical that the peacebuilding sector work to prevent and reduce violence and hate. Since October 7th, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have increased 360%, while the last three months of 2023 saw a 178% increase in complaints of anti-Muslim hate in the U.S. compared to the same period in 2022. The FBI has warned that since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, “the volume and frequency of threats to Americans, especially those in the Jewish, Arab American, and Muslim communities in the United States, have increased.” The EU is also observing “a very clear rising trend of anti-Muslim hatred and anti-Semitic narratives.” The publications and tools compiled below are critical resources that can help the public, the private sector, policymakers, universities, and beyond effectively reduce and prevent increasing violence globally. If you have an item that you would like to see added, please contact Nick Zuroski.
Dialogue Tools:
Alliance for Middle East Peace, Consuming News and Media, Avoid Misinformation
Alliance for Middle East Peace, Sharing Content During Active Conflict
Alliance for Middle East Peace, Identifying Different Types of Biases: A Guide for Absorbing News
Alliance for Middle East Peace, Building Resilience through Mental Health and Empathy
American Friends Service Committee, How to Talk with Family and Friends About the Situation in Israel and Palestine
Anti-Defamation League, 10 Ways to Have Conscientious Conversations on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
CBS, Main Line Health Psychiatrist Provides Helpful Ways to Cope Amid Israeli-Palestinian War
Essential Partners, How to Start a Hard Conversation about the Israel-Hamas War
Essential Partners, To Have a Healthier Conversation about the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza
Hotline for Israel-Palestine (texting hotline for engaging in conversations around Israel-Palestine made up of 23 volunteers from five different countries and diverse backgrounds, including Jews, Christians, Muslims, Palestinians, Israelis and Americans), text +1 617-313-2125.
Interview with Karen Ross, Associate Professor, Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, UMass Boston, How to Start a Hard Conversation About the Israel-Hamas War
National Association of School Psychologists, Supporting Youth Affected by the Violence in Israel and Gaza: Tips for Families and Educators
The New York Times, The Israel-Hamas War: A Forum for Young People to React
NPR, How to Talk to Children About the Violence in Israel and Gaza
Analysis and Research:
ACLED, Infographic: Global Demonstrations in Response to the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Americans for Peace Now, Gaza - The Civilian Challenge with Larry Garber and Dave Harden
Congressional Research Service, Israel and Hamas: Major Conflict After Surprise Attacks
Congressional Research Service, Israel and Hamas October 2023 Conflict: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Congressional Research Service, Israel and Hamas 2023 Conflict In Brief: Overview, U.S. Policy, and Options for Congress
Human Rights Watch, How Does International Humanitarian Law Apply in Israel and Gaza?
International Crisis Group, The Gaza War Reverberates Across the Middle East
International Crisis Group, Settler Violence Rises in the West Bank during the Gaza War
Kroc Institute for the International Peace Studies, Notre Dame University, Resources from the Kroc Institute on the Israel/Palestine War
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Chair, The Elders, and Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General, Deputy Chair, The Elders, The World Must Not Lose Sight of the Violence in the West Bank
Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, On Gaza: Where is our Humanity Going?, Wilson Center
Refugees International, “I Don't Want to Die”: Fleeing Palestinians Reveal Gap in International Refugee Protection, USA Today
Toda Peace Institute, A 5-Point Peace Plan - Palestine and Israel
U.S. Institute of Peace, How the Israel-Hamas War Impacts Regional Relations
Advocacy Resources:
#CeasefireNow Petition (sign as an individual or as an organization).
Alliance for Middle East Peace, How You can Support Israeli and Palestinian Activists Working on the Ground Right Now.
Friends Committee on National Legislation, Calling for a Ceasefire: Advocacy Toolkit
Human Rights Watch, Real or Fake? Verifying Video Evidence in Israel and Palestine
Statements and Declarations:
Alliance for Peacebuilding, The Alliance for Peacebuilding’s Statement on the Violent Conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Alliance for Peacebuilding, The Alliance For Peacebuilding’s Statement on the Israel-Hamas Violent Conflict
Alliance for Middle East Peace member statements
American Friends Service Committee, A Just and Lasting Peace in Israel and Palestine
American Friends Service Committee, To End Violence in Palestine and Israel We Must Address Root Causes
American Friends Service Committee, Quaker Org Calls for Humanitarian Aid and End to Occupation as Gaza Staff Fear for Their Lives
American Friends Service Committee, Bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital is Unconscionable. We Need a Ceasefire Now.
American Friends Service Committee, Israel Destroys Last Telecommunications Link Between Gaza and the Rest of the World
Amnesty International, Social Media Companies Must Step up Crisis Response on Israel-Palestine as Online Hate and Censorship Proliferate
Amnesty International, Peacefully Protesting Against Injustice in Israel/OPT is Not a Threat to Security
Amnesty International, Israel/OPT: Civilians in Gaza at Unprecedented Risk as Israel Imposes Communication Black-Out During Bombardment and Expanding Ground Attacks
Carter Center, Carter Center Calls for the Protection of Israeli and Palestinian Civilians Amid Escalating Violence.
Carter Center, Carter Center Calls for Cease-fire in Gaza, Return of Hostages, Opening of Humanitarian Corridors.
Catholic Relief Services, CRS Calls for Immediate Humanitarian Access in Gaza
Catholic Relief Services, CRS Calls for Humanitarian Access to Gaza and an Immediate End to Violence
Catholic Relief Services, CRS Urges Quick Congressional Approval of President’s Humanitarian Aid Requests for Gaza, Ukraine
Catholic Relief Services, One Month After Deadly Conflict Began in the Holy Land, CRS Calls for an Immediate End to Violence.
Charity & Security Network, C&SN Statement on the Conflict in Palestine and Israel: Safe and Secure Access for Humanitarian Aid and Peacebuilding Processes Must Be Maintained
Friends Committee on National Legislation, Quaker Lobby Calls for Urgent De-escalation of Violence in Israel and Gaza
Hands of Peace, Jewish-Arab Joint Declaration for Peace.
Human Rights Watch, Israel/Palestine: Grave Concerns for Civilians in Ground Offensive
Human Rights Watch, Suspend Arms to Israel, Palestinian Armed Groups
InterAction, InterAction’s Statement on Escalating Violence in Israel & Gaza
InterAction, Statement by the Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Israel and Gaza
International Civil Society Action Network, Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership Statement: An Urgent 7-Point Plan to End the Killings and Violence in Palestine and Israel
International Crisis Group, A Ceasefire in Gaza
Mercy Corps, Mercy Corps Statement on Escalating Violence in Gaza and Israel
Mercy Corps, Mercy Corps Urges Humanitarian Corridor into Gaza Amid Looming Water Shortage
Mercy Corps, Mercy Corps Calls for Access, Cessation of Hostilities, as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza
Saferworld, UK, US, and EU Must Halt Arms Sales to Israel or Risk Complicity in Potential War Crimes
Search for Common Ground, Updated Statement: Israel-Gaza War