More than 900 Black Christian faith leaders representing churches across the US demanded a cease-fire in Gaza in a full-page advertisement in the New York Times newspaper.
“Our conscience and hearts compel us to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas,” said the ad titled, Black Christian Faith Leaders for Ceasefire.
“We, the undersigned Black Christian Faith Leaders, implore President Biden to use every leverage available to him as President of the United States to call for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in the Middle East for the sake of our shared humanity and our collective security,” it said.
The Black leaders also urged the release of all hostages held in Gaza and urgent humanitarian relief to Palestinians. They demanded that US President Joe Biden take action to reduce tensions in the region, release hostages and secure humanitarian aid for the Palestinians.
“As people of moral conscience, we seek and pray for the President and the Congress to use diplomacy and peaceful negotiations to reverse the course of a war that has the potential to escalate and draw other forces, including the United States, into another extended conflict resulting in even more deaths,” said the leaders.
“We must do what we can to stop the killing of Palestinians and Israelis and respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza!!” they said.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip — including hospitals, residences and houses of worship — since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.
At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women.
The Israeli death toll is nearly 1,400, according to official figures.