October 23, 2023
My heart breaks with the ongoing tragedy in Israel and Gaza. The images on the news, the stories of brutality and retaliation, the collective experiences of grief, loss and trauma have been heart-wrenching and agonizing. May the violence born of hatred be overcome so that we can see the humanity in one another in ways that build justice and celebrate dignity for all.
The long history of conflict in Israel/Palestine is complex and complicated. As we pray for peace and an end to violence, I’d like to share some of the resources that I’ve found helpful in seeking to understand the situation. I share them in the hopes that you and your community of faith might use them to learn about what is happening and engage in ways that build peace and purpose.
Yours in the Journey,
Rev. Chris Dorsey
President and CEO
Disciples Home Missions
RESOURCES
- Global Ministries: The Crisis in Israel/Palestine
https://www.globalministries.org/topic/gaza2023/
Global Ministries has created a page that Includes links to a growing list of statements from mission partners, opportunities to sign-up for weekly prayer sessions, and a full collection of worship resources. - Churches for Middle East Peace
https://cmep.org/
Churches for Middle East Peace has created recurring spaces for prayer and learning. You can sign up for Weekly Prayers for Peace held on Wednesdays from 12:30PM ET to 1PM ET and register for a Weekly Issues Briefing held on Thursdays from 10AM ET to 10:30AM ET. - BBC News: History of the Conflict Explained
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396
BBC News assembled a thorough explainer article on the history of conflict between Israel and Palestine that includes additional links with updating stories on the Israel Gaza War. - United Nations: Israel-Gaza Crisis
https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied- palestine-and-israel
UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading. The UN webpage Includes links to statements from the UN as well as continuing news updates. - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Maps
https://www.ochaopt.org/maps
Interactive, information-rich, and highly detailed maps of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank created and curated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. These maps are free and available for fair use. - Vox: Israel-Hamas War News & Updates
https://www.vox.com/2023/10/7/23907683/israel-hamas-war- news-updates-october-2023
The news site Vox has developed an updating news page for the daily stories that are emerging about the Israel-Hamas war. It contains a dynamic timeline that links “big picture” stories of the ongoing war. - Vox: Everything You Need to Know about Israel & Palestine
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/20/18079996/israel-palestine- conflict-guide-explainer
An older article (2018) from Vox that breaks down the history of the conflict between Israel and Palestine in a series of 20-different Q&A style articles. It is specific, accessible, and informative. - ACLED Fact Sheet: Israel and Palestine Conflict (October 2023)
https://acleddata.com/2023/10/13/fact-sheet-israel-and- palestine-conflict/
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) is a data collection, analysis, and crisis mapping project. ACLED collects information on armed conflicts around the world and makes both data and analysis open for free use by the public. - Global Conflict Tracker: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/ israeli-palestinian-conflict
The Center for Preventative Action has created an explainer article that includes background, concerns, and recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The page also aggregates the latest news in a sidebar panel.
