The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has welcomed the ceasefire in the Middle East, describing it as a source of hope for an end to the war in Gaza. The Church has also encouraged its members to continue praying for peace and for those affected by the conflict.
Reflecting on recent events, Rev Richard Kerr, Convener of PCI’s Council for Global Mission’s Global Development Committee, said in a statement: “Fragile as it is, and while there is much to be worked out and thought through, we welcome the ceasefire and give thanks to God for it.
"Tens of thousands of lives have been lost as a result of this conflict, and it has not been easy to sift through the propaganda from both Israeli and Hamas sources to ascertain and understand what was happening. However, we are deeply grateful for the present ceasefire and pray that it will not only hold, but become the start of a long-lasting and enduring peace in the region:”
The statement released on Monday came a day after the IDF claimed Hamas fired at troops in areas of Rafah city that are Israeli-controlled under the terms of the truce. At least 36 Palestinians were killed in retaliatory airstrikes. Following the events, the Israeli military resumed the ceasefire in Gaza. US President Donald Trump, who brokered the peace deal, also confirmed the ceasefire was still "in effect".
Encouraging PCI members to remain steadfast in prayer, Rev Kerr concluded: “In the midst of all the rhetoric, we must remember the great human cost of this war: the lives of people massacred on 7 October, the hostages taken, the impact on their families and the huge death toll in Gaza over the past two years.
"We need to continue to bring all who have been affected to God. As we pray for them, we should also remember those in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East who have also been affected by the conflict, including our partner churches and organisations in the region”.
