Gaza Ceasefire Rally – Feb 2024

I was asked to speak at the Gaza Ceasefire Rally, in Fremantle last Saturday. I knew I wanted to stand up for peace, I knew I wanted to call out the actions that damage and destroy humanity, but I really battled with what to say, how to say it, how brave to be, and my nerves were really alert. Really alert! I wrote 4 full, different, scripts. But this is what I stood and shared. I hope it landed as a call for peace, as an end to violence, as a cry for a ceasefire and as care for humanity – especially those who are most marginalised and oppressed. I hope that is what was communicated, because that is my heart…

I’m Revd. Gemma – I’m an Anglican priest – and I am unashamedly in love with a Palestinian Jew who, 2000+ years ago, lived a radical message of love and peace for all people. ‘Love your enemies’, he said. And always, always, he focussed first and foremost on the marginalised, oppressed, displaced, and forgotten. And he went and stood overlooking Jerusalem, in the West Bank, and he wept – actually, the scriptures say he sobbed uncontrollably. And I think he is still doing that, especially now, especially today.

Since the events of 7^th October there have been memes circulating on social media saying things like, ‘if you ever wondered what you would do in the face of human slavery, apartheid or the holocaust, you are doing it now’…and we are doing this now, to say ‘we don’t know what to do, but this is not ok’. To say a resounding no to genocide and the taking and holding of hostages, whatever their race or nationality. We are here to protest a world where humans can block or withhold life’s basic provisions; to stand up for those who need aid or shelter or water and to say it is not acceptable to force a whole community of people into the ‘safety’ of Rafah, just to chorale them there and turn on them. And we are here to decry the actions of Hamas.

Friends, there are no words. Standing and watching and weeping, sobbing uncontrollably, is a valid and understandable response. And showing up to do so together, in solidarity with those who are opposed to genocide and in favour of peace and justice, in solidarity with those whose lives depend on a ceasefire, who need aid and food and water, who need to be released from hostage situations, who need somewhere to live and a place to call home. That is valid and that is why people of all faiths, and none, can come together and hope – together – for that.

If you want to do more, you can walk the distance from Gaza City to Rafah – 36km – charting that distance on your body, here with those who walk and run and flee for safety in the holy land. If you want to walk part or all those steps, check out the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage website. The walk is happening in 85 cities across the world. Here, it is 2 weeks today – 24^th February – and is from Hillary’s to Bathers Beach. You can sign up online – Gaza ceasefire pilgrimage.

Friends, we don’t know what to do, we struggle to find the words to speak, but by showing up, together, for peace, we are doing all we can so that when history looks back and asks us, ‘what did you do?’ we can say we didn’t look the other way but we nailed our colours to the mast as people of peace and as activists towards a just and gentle future.  May our actions be significant, compassionate, liberating and healing for all people and may we be people of peace.