Solidarity with the victims and peace for the Middle East!

The 'Jewish & Christian working group at the Germ an Protestant Kirchentag', the 'Jews and
Christians' discussion group at the Central Committee of German Catholics' and the 'German
Coordinating Council of the Societies for Christian Jewish Cooperation' are deeply shocked
by the large scale terrorist atta ck by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. The assault took place at
the end of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles during Shabbat. Thousands of rockets were fired
at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of terrorists invaded the towns and kibbutzim near
the border, injuring, raping and murdering their inhabitants in the most brutal way. The latest
count is that the death toll in Israel from the large scale attacks by Islamist Hamas has risen
to at least 1300. The vast majority of the fatalities are civilians, includi ng 260 young people
who had been attending a music festival in the Negev. More than 3000 others have been
injured and over 150 have been forcibly abducted.

By no means can this inhuman massacre be justified. Ripping women, men and children
from their sleep, insidiously murdering and abducting them is terror; by international law, it
is a war crime and even a crime against humanity.

Our thoughts are with the victims and with all our friends in Israel. We mourn with those who
have lost a loved one. We wish all those injured a full recovery. And we grieve with the
families and friends of those abducted. Everything must be done to free them as soon as
possible!

We are aware of the fact that innocent people on the Palestinian side are also suffering, being
inj ured and killed on a large scale. However, the responsibility for the current escalation of
violence lies solely with Hamas. To all those who really want freedom and peace for the
Middle East, we say: There will be neither through terror. Hamas, Islamic Ji had and Hezbollah
do not bring liberation and justice for the Palestinians, but only more violence and bloodshed.

Our full solidarity in this situation is with Israel and its people. The country has every right on
its side to defend itself against terror. It is Germany's obligation to support Israel in restoring
its security.

What Israel needs now is genuine international solidarity. We call on the German government
and the international community to urgently put efforts for peace in the region at the top of
the political agenda. We call on all those responsible in the churches and in the Jewish
community to use their opportunities for understanding.