Dear Friend,
In April 2024, AFSC and other Quaker organizations released a statement titled “A different future is possible: Quaker organizations share a vision for peace in Palestine and Israel.” That statement put forth our vision for lasting peace and reconciliation for all people living in the region and issued urgent calls to action. Over 145 Quaker communities around the world endorsed our call for peace with justice. In July of this year—15 months after our original statement and 21 months into the crisis in Gaza, we have published a new joint statement, “Quakers discern genocide is occurring in Gaza and urge courageous action.”
As Friends, one of our religious convictions is to speak the truth as we see it, especially when it is not being widely acknowledged or understood. We believe with moral clarity, and in line with the definition of the crime of genocide, that the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. We name this painful truth with the fervent hope that the violence it describes will cease, and with continued commitment to help heal the wounds of war on all sides.
We ask Friends meetings, churches, organizations, and schools to consider endorsing our statement. We hope this may be an opportunity for many Quaker communities to mobilize a public witness to our peace testimony. We have also compiled a collection of queries and resources to aid in your discernment process.
Here are some more ways to engage with AFSC, plus a few updates on our work:
Gaza is starving while the world watches: Israel has blocked nearly all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since March. Writing from Gaza, AFSC staffer Serena describes how systematic starvation has brought Palestinians to catastrophic hunger. “Everywhere I look, there’s a body giving out. A woman falls to her knees in the street. A child can no longer walk. A man sways, barely able to stand. The images aren’t isolated. They are daily. They are everywhere. They are us.” Read the full article from Serena.
Mapping untold stories of migration: Every day, immigrants in the U.S. and around the world face overwhelming challenges as they try to rebuild their lives. But their stories of struggle and resilience are rarely told. That’s why AFSC created TRACES, a visual storytelling project that maps the lived stories of immigration. The result is a powerful visual map of interwoven stories and oppressive systems faced by migrants in their journeys. Learn more.
Building community outside an ICE facility: Every week, rain or shine, AFSC staff and volunteers set up a support table across from the Miramar ICE facility in Miramar, Florida. They provide water, coffee, snacks, and clothing. They also serve as a resource hub, providing individuals with Know Your Rights information, contacts for legal aid services, referrals to the Florida detention support hotline, and more. Read more about their work.
Urge Congress to support a nuclear-free world: This month marks 80 years since the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. In commemoration, our staff have helped to organize vigils across the country and advocate for an end to nuclear weapons. Despite the moral and strategic imperative to disarm, the U.S. continues to invest billions in nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, Rep. Jim McGovern introduced a resolution (H. Res 317) that would finally shift U.S. nuclear policy. Contact Congress today to urge your representatives to cosponsor H. Res. 317 and take meaningful steps toward nuclear abolition.
Displaced in Gaza: Stories from the Gaza Genocide: The book “Displaced in Gaza” is a collection of stories compiled by our U.S. Palestine Activism team. It aims to raise global awareness of how violent displacement has impacted the lives of Palestinians. It is also a commitment to the longstanding Palestinian tradition of storytelling, documenting both the horror of the genocide and the resilience of the Palestinian people. The stories in this collection are not merely accounts of suffering, they are assertions of humanity, resistance, hope, and the unbreakable bond that ties Palestinians to their homeland. Pre-order your copy today.
QUAKER COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: At its annual session in June, Iowa Yearly Meeting-Conservative reached unity on taking AFSC’s Apartheid-Free Communities pledge. This makes them the second yearly meeting to become an Apartheid-Free Community, along with South Central Yearly Meeting. Learn more about the Apartheid-Free Coalition.
Meeting for Worship with attention to peace in Palestine and Israel: Please join us every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT as we worship with Friends from across the U.S.
You are also invited to attend our weekly Action Hour for Palestine, every Friday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT. The action hour is on break in August but will return in September. Hear updates from AFSC staff and take collective action as we contact our elected officials. Please share this invitation with members of your Meeting and communities.
Thank you for your continued support of AFSC and all you do to create a more just and peaceful world!
With care,
Ainsley Bruton (they/them)
Quaker Engagement Coordinator
P.S. You're always welcome to contact the Quaker Engagement team at friends@afsc.org with any questions, comments, or concerns.
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