How to stop the killing

Since October 7, 2023, intense efforts have been attempted through mediation and dialogue.

President Biden and his emissaries, leaders of the region, nations such as Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, the United Kingdom, the EU and its members, the Holy See and many others have supported their entire weight. peace. These efforts are the only way to establish a definitive peace, since the only true peacemakers are always the parties in conflict. The only secure peace is one that is widely agreed upon, respects the human dignity of all, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and is the basis of the Common Good. However, when dialogue and mediation struggle to find a way to Moving forward, there is a framework within the United Nations that provides space for the necessary agreements to be reached.

When there is a breakdown in international peace and security, the tools to address it are set out in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Chapter VII empowers the UN Security Council to “take such measures as are necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security” and has been used multiple times in the past to end wars. War is never a solution to war, but this type of international peace action can buy time.

Therefore, it is imperative that the Security Council now exercise these Chapter VII powers to implement Resolution 2735 on Gaza. This will impose, as first steps, an immediate, total and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages and oversee the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, as well as ensuring the delivery of the long-awaited massive humanitarian response to end the deplorable physical and psychological suffering. of the population. The greatest obstacle to peace is the almost complete absence of mutual trust and security. The reconstruction of Gaza, to rebuild communities, restore livelihoods and ignite hope, replacing despair, must also be quickly accompanied by a financial commitment on the scale of the Marshall Plan after World War II.

Other measures are needed, including international guarantees, with credible prospects for compliance. In this region, above all, religious groups must participate in rebuilding trust, which will be the work of generations. Christian churches have done that work for centuries and are well positioned to play an important role.

The Security Council must also mobilize its powers and resources in coordination with the Lebanese government to ensure the full implementation of Resolution 1701. There must be an immediate ceasefire, allowing for the safe return of internally displaced people in both Israel and the Lebanon, with a roadmap for the complete disarmament of the militias and the activation of humanitarian, reconstruction and recovery packages. Furthermore, the Security Council must also work with Iran to ensure that the objectives of the JCPOA are achieved in a transparent and accountable manner, ensuring a path to safeguarding regional stability that enjoys the confidence of all.

Call to action

Seventy-nine years ago, after the Second World War, learning from the abject failures of the League of Nations, the United Nations Charter established the Security Council, giving it the responsibility and power to maintain and restore peace and security. international security. The 15 members who today make up that Council must step forward and fulfill their duty. They have already agreed on resolutions that will bring peace to the Middle East. They must now unify and mobilize political will to implement these resolutions, as failure is a matter of life and death while tens of millions are at risk. Peace begins with the cessation of violence, because only then can you have clarity of thought to reimagine the future. The Holy Land can and must become an inspiration for peace instead of war and, in doing so, make peace easier than war for future generations.