September 26, 2025

The following resolution on Palestine was approved by the annual meeting of Provincial Standing Committee:

This PSC:

Noting the:

1. on-going humanitarian crisis in Gaza with deaths in that territory nearing 60 000 people through war, starvation and lack of access to medical resources;

2. genocidal actions of the Israeli Defence Force in preventing the delivery of food, water and medicines to the people of Gaza;

3. intensifying attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and the illegal expansion of settlements, both of which bear no legal consequences;

4. continued export of coal to the Israeli state by South-African based companies fuels the energy grid, illegal settlements and genocidal actions of the Israeli Defence Force;

5. 24 June 2025 Statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC) which inter alia calls for the implementation by states, institutions and churches of targeted sanctions and divestment;

6. international non-violent actions such as the Freedom Flotilla and the March to Gaza;

Resolves to:

1. Commend and affirm all non-violent actions against the Israeli occupation of Palestine;

2. Call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and end to the occupation and the cessation of the killing of inhabitants;

3. Call upon the government of Israel and the Israeli Defence Force to immediately allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza;

4. Call upon the South African Football Association (SAFA) to request that FIFA bans Israel from participation in all FIFA approved events;

5. Respectfully request the Archbishop to address a letter in this regard to the SAFA administration communicating this request;

6. Call upon all sports bodies, schools and universities in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia to cut all ties with Israeli institutions;

7. Call upon the government of South Africa to strengthen its principled stance against apartheid and genocide by following Colombia’s example in banning all coal exports to the Israeli state;

8. Respectfully request the Archbishop to address a letter in this regard to the President and relevant cabinet ministers communicating this request;

9. Thank the WCC for its affirmation that Israel is an apartheid state;

10. Call upon all member churches of the WCC to affirm the WCC Statement on Palestine and Israel of 24 June 2025;

11. Respectfully request the WCC Secretariat to explore ways to recommend to member churches that they engage their governments with a view to formal recognition of a Palestinian state;

12. Commend the Lent 2025 Provincial Bible Studies on Peacemaking for study at parish and school level.

13. Support the call for the Global Sumud Flotilla as a non-violent attempt to break the siege on Gaza for humanitarian aid and encourage similar initiatives.