Thursday, March 20, 2025

WCC NEWS: Accompaniers in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jordan Valley, and South Hebron Hills show “someone from the international community cares”

A new group from the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel have released a report on incidents in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and South Hebron Hills.
Ecumenical Accompaniers pictured walking along a street in the wider Bethlehem area. File Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
20 March 2025

The latest group of ecumenical accompaniers marks the sixth successful implementation underway since the war started on 7 October 2023. The WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel has managed 80 accompaniers since the war started and expanded to South Hebron Hills with the latest group. 

From 27 January 2024 to mid-March 2025, ecumenical accompaniers carried out 3,296 activities and visits, and reported 4,323 incidents, with 5,094 international humanitarian law violations out of which 2,590 cases were referred for immediate assistance by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Israeli, Palestinian, international, and United Nations organizations.

An example of an incident in Bethlehem: on 6 March, a woman from Jubbet adh Dhib reported that she and her son were attacked by settlers as she was taking him to see a doctor.  The attack occurred at 2 am, and now the woman is trying to take care of her son at home so they do not have to leave for medical treatment. 

In Jerusalem, on 2 March, residents of Hizma village reported that their homes were raided by soldiers repeatedly at night and that belongings were destroyed.  The Palestinian families are focused on comforting each other, and they feel that they have no one to report to. 

In Jordan Valley, on 8 March, six families of Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja village reported that their sheep and goats were confiscated by Israeli security forces and settlers. One man was arrested because he tried to protect his sheep, and the residents know nothing about his whereabouts. 

In South Hebron Hills, on 6 March, a Palestinian woman in the village of Umm Al Amad reported daily harassment by Israeli soldiers and settlers, that settlers have a lookout point, and that they observe the community. She also reported that soldiers vandalized a small shop that she owns. The woman has a demolition order against her home. 

“It is good that people here see and know about your presence, and that someone from the international community cares,” said one resident during a visit to Wings of Hope trauma center in Bethlehem on 10 February.

“God is the power that give us hope. Knowing that we have eternal life gives meaning to our life. Helping others is the medicine that gives us power and makes us feel good in spite of everything that happens around us,” said the principal of Al-Khader School to the ecumenical accompaniers on 9 February. “God created in our hearts the will to help others, after all we are one family, and when you smile at me I smile at you.” 

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The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

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