Comfort over costly solidarity?
“...Jesus did not bypass hunger. He entered it. He did not bypass injury. He endured it. He did not bypass the cross. He carried it. So this Lent, perhaps the question is not only what will I give up, but whose vulnerability will I refuse to look away from? Whose hunger will I allow to move me? Where am I tempted to choose comfort over costly solidarity?” -- Dr. Lamma Mansour, Sabeel Thursday Service, February 19, 2026.
Thank-you from CFOS to donors and supporters
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who generously donated to CFOS in 2025. Particularly those who bid on items from our art auction or contributed to our Christmas Appeal. We received a significantly greater amount than previous years. These resources will be well used as CFOS continues to spotlight Palestinian Christian voices and advocate for justice and peace for Palestinians to the Canadian government in these increasingly challenging times.
Thank you for joining us in making a difference!"
~~~ Monica Lambton, Chair, CFOS Advancement Committee
News you may not have heard
The Lancet Global Health – a highly respected medical journal – reports that more than 75,000 Gazans were killed during the first 16 months of the genocide, a full 25,000 more than what was reported by local health authorities. More information here.
In recent weeks, the Israeli government has enacted new policy and legislative measures which entrench its control of the West Bank and amount to a “qualitative escalation in Israel’s annexation of large parts of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).” Read the analysis of Dahlia Qumsieh here and the BBC here. The Canadian government issued only a bland response condemning the measure but offering nothing new by way of proposals or reprisals.
According to analysis in Al Jazeera, “Since the ‘ceasefire’ was declared, Israel has killed over 600 Palestinians and violated the agreement over 1,620 times.” The most recent bulletin by OCHA, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, adds that “According to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, between 28 January and 11 February 2026, 109 Palestinians were killed, 252 were injured, and 10 bodies were recovered from under the rubble. This brings the casualty toll among Palestinians since 7 October 2023, as reported by the MoH, to 72,045 fatalities and 171,686 injuries. UN details here.
A CBC investigation published February 5 confirms that Canadian weapons continue to reach Israel, despite what the Canadian government has been alleging. This confirms what groups like ArmsEmbargoNow and CJPME have been arguing for over a year.
Responding to longstanding and well-organized pressure, Canada’s Scotiabank has finally fully divested from Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems. Formerly it had held as much as $500 million of Elbit equity. See details here.
Lenten study guide on Kairos Palestine II
In time for Lenten study, Kairos Palestine II: A Congregational Study Guide is now available for download here. This resource invites congregations into a sacred dialogue with the Kairos Palestine II document—a living confession born from the heart of Palestinian Christian suffering. It contains many informative and punchy graphics, links, glossary, a historical summary, and more, all in the context of current realities in Gaza, the West Bank, and the wider Palestinian diaspora. See the video complement on YouTube here. The Kairos Palestine II document and other resources can be found here. here.
Bethlehem conference: “Kingdom Ethics in the Face of War and Genocide”
The next Christ at the Checkpoint conference will take place in Bethlehem, May 26-30, with the theme “Kingdom Ethics in the Face of War and Genocide.” This is the flagship conference of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice at Bethlehem Bible College. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather with Christians from around the world in “a powerful act of presence and solidarity” with Palestinian Christians More information and registration here.
Winnipeg conference: “In the Shadows of Genocide”
If you are unable to go to Bethlehem for Christ at the Checkpoint, then consider coming to Winnipeg from May 14-16 for "In the Shadows of Genocide: Palestine, Settler Colonialism, and an Ecumenical Call to Action." This event builds on the Palestinian “Call to Repentance” issued in October 2023 and will actively engage the Kairos Palestine II document. Keynote speakers include: John and Samuel Munayer (Palestinian Christian theologians), Sarojini Nadar (South African feminist biblical scholar) and Carmen Lansdowne (Indigenous scholar and United Church minister). More information and registration details are here.
“Come and See, Go and Tell”
CFOS continues to actively recruit participants for its “Come and See, Go and Tell” initiative. This project, jointly sponsored with Sabeel Jerusalem, takes Canadians on 10-day visits to Palestine/Israel to meet and learn from Palestinians and Israelis working to end occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide, and to build a just and liberating peace. It is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 and older who are prepared to join a wider network of advocates. More information is here.
One person who recently participated in a Come and See visit is Rev. Gerlyn Henry, rector of Holy Wisdom Anglican Church in Scarborough, ON. A social media sensation – she has hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok – Gerlyn has produced a series of 15 videos about her Come and See experience. Find her on Instagram at @gerlynhenry.
Israeli settlements and the Palestinian Christian presence
Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land is a group of Canadian Catholics “who seek an end to the occupation and a just peace for all living in Palestine and Israel.” It is announcing its 5th webinar, “Israeli Settlements and Their Impact on the Christian Palestinian Presence in Palestine,” presented by Ms. Dahlia Qumsieh, founder and director of Balasan Initiative for Human Rights, Saturday, 28 February, 12:00-13:30 ET. Qumsieh is a brilliant lawyer who often speaks to groups of pilgrims and international visitors on settlement expansion, especially within the Bethlehem governate; her website is here. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Register here.
Palestinian Christian leaders denounce Christian Zionism
On January 17 the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued a stern Statement on Unity and Representation of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land, available here. It rebukes unnamed “local individuals who advance damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism, mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock,” and cites implicitly comments by Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel, whose Christian Zionist pronouncements are of course entirely at odds with those of Palestinian Christians.
Weekly events hosted by Sabeel Jerusalem
Sabeel conducts a weekly English online worship service on Thursdays at 11:00 AM ET. The services are a time to meet together to discuss how weekly scripture readings apply to life today, especially in Palestine and Israel, and to pray for the specific needs of this region through the Sabeel Wave of Prayer. Register here to participate.