Muslim and Christian faith leaders of South Florida call for ceasefire in Gaza
South Florida Muslim and Christian faith leaders stood side-by-side at a mosque in Sunrise to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“As faith leaders, we have the responsibility to be the voices of reason and compassion,” said Pastor Rae Whitely of Faith in Florida on Tuesday. “Today, we call upon all parties involved in the current conflict to heed our pleas for ceasefire. Ceasefire is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength.”
Several imams from the Imam Council of the South Florida Muslim Federation, a Christian pastor and the Episcopal Diocese of Florida implored residents and politicians to join in calling for an end to the war in the Gaza strip, where Israel has been bombarding sites in response to Hamas attacks on Israelis on Oct. 7.
Speakers quoted verses from the Bible and Quran and spoke about common values from their respective religions.
“All human beings have been chosen by God. There’s no one individual, no chosen special person, no one nation,” said Imam Nasir Ahmad of Masjid Al-Ansar in Miami. “Every person has intrinsic value from Almighty God.”
Archdeacon Jean-Fritz Bazin of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida called on “the president of the United States and Congress to facilitate a process that will lead to lasting peace and security of both Israel and Palestine.”
“We are called to serve Christ by loving our neighbors as ourselves and strive for justice and peace for all people and respect the dignity of every human being,” Bazin, who was born in Haiti, added.
The Biden administration has never supported a complete ceasefire in the conflict since fighting began on Oct. 7. The United States has opposed calls from allies and resolutions at the United Nations calling for a cessation of hostilities, warning that such an outcome would only benefit Hamas, allowing the group to reassemble and rearm. The administration, however, did broker a brief pause in the fighting that led to the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in late November.
The White House has increasingly pushed Israel in recent weeks to pivot to a less intense phase of the conflict that would focus on more targeted strikes in the strip, and has privately warned Israeli leaders that the growing Palestinian death toll risks diminishing international support for their cause.
The Israeli government has also rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying it will only end the war once Hamas’ political leadership and military capabilities have been eliminated — a position it has held since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants entered Israeli territory and killed over 1,400 Israeli civilians. Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its military response, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Imam Abdullah Jaber, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said that his organization has sent over 53,000 emails to elected officials urging them to take action to stop the war.
“Sadly, the responses have fallen on deaf ears,” Jaber said. “But we will continue holding our elected officials accountable by the use of every means available to us.”
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The religious leaders gathered at the Islamic Foundation of South Florida in Sunrise to point out the mounting Palestinian deaths in the Gaza strip.
“Civilian deaths in Gaza continue to rise at a staggering rate and we have witnessed horrible death and destruction,” said Imam Abdul Hamid Samra of the Islamic Center of Greater Miami in Miami Gardens. “I’m joined by multiple faith leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire ... to put an end to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East.”
Various faith leaders said their religions stood for humanity. “As a Muslim, there are no Muslim issues. None. There are only human issues,” Jaber said.
Rabbi Loring J Frank from All Peoples Synagogue was invited to attend but did not show up. Organizers said he sent a statement of support in his absence.
“At some point, we have to speak up because we have an ethical and moral responsibility,” said Hakeem Basheer, a Florida resident who has family in Gaza. “To come together and put our differences aside and to demand a ceasefire.”
McClatchy White House Correspondent Michael Wilner contributed to this report.
This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
This story was originally published December 19, 2023 at 5:54 PM.
