On Freedom Day in South Africa, commemorating the end of apartheid and the birth of a democratic nation, a coalition of Christian leaders and institutions issued a joint statement linking the legacy of South Africa’s liberation struggle to urgent global calls for justice in Palestine and Israel. The statement was released by the Reformed Church in America (RCA), Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and the South African Council of Churches (SACC), together with our ecumenical partners, the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) and the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC).

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to announce that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) has joined as CMEP’s newest member communion, further strengthening the broad ecumenical witness for peace and justice in the Middle East. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a network of churches and individuals across the United States and globally, committed to historic Baptist principles of freedom, local church autonomy, and global missions engagement. CBF advocates for justice, fosters vibrant congregational life, and equips leaders for faithful Christian witness in a complex world.

Churches for Middle East Peace join international humanitarian organizations in warning that Israel’s recent registration measures threaten to shut down life-saving aid operations across Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. If allowed to proceed, these measures would force dozens of INGOs to cease operations, cutting off food, healthcare, shelter, and nutrition assistance to millions of civilians facing extreme need. Humanitarian access is not political or optional; it is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law that must be protected.