In response to the news that the first phase of a ceasefire deal was accepted by Israel and Hamas, Interim ERLC President Gary Hollingsworth sent a letter to President Trump congratulating him on this historic achievement of peace for his administration. This peace plan, proposed by President Trump, requires the release of all remaining hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for a ceasefire. In this letter, Dr. Hollingsworth states:
“I write to express the gratitude of millions of Southern Baptists for your leadership in negotiating a successful peace agreement to pursue an end to Israel’s two-year-long war with Hamas. The nation of Israel holds historic and particular significance to Southern Baptists, and so we are especially thankful for your attention to this matter. Without a doubt, initiating a ceasefire in such a complex conflict rightly makes this a historic achievement for your administration.
Furthermore, we are profoundly grateful that these negotiations necessitated the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas.”
Southern Baptists, ERLC, and the Israel-Hamas conflict
Southern Baptists have strongly supported the people and nation of Israel throughout the decades and have continually condemned Hamas for its terrorist attacks bent on genocide. Messengers to the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting passed a resolution calling on Hamas to release the hostages, defending Israel’s right to self-defense, and calling for a just, lasting peace. As stated in the 2024 resolution, “On Justice and Peace in the Aftermath of the October 7 Attack on Israel,”
“RESOLVED, That we deny assertions of moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas;”
“RESOLVED, That we commit to supporting biblical solutions to the conflict, advocating for principles of justice, mercy, and humility in all actions taken by Israel in its pursuit of a just peace (Micah 6:8);”
“RESOLVED, That we call for the international community to redouble its efforts to support the nation of Israel toward a just and lasting peace.”
Furthermore, Southern Baptists affirm the same premise reflected in President Trump’s proposal to pair a ceasefire with immediate release of hostages.
“RESOLVED, That we oppose calls for the nation of Israel to lay down its arms, repudiating any calls for a permanent ceasefire that do not also result in the immediate release of all hostages . . .”
Following the horrific Oct. 7 attack, the ERLC joined in spearheading the Evangelical Statement in Support of Israel, which condemned Hamas’ repugnant atrocities and supported Israel’s right to exist. In October 2024, the ERLC sent letters with SBC President, Clint Pressley, to President Biden and to Congress. These letters urged retention of support for the nation of Israel, and reinforced the historic Southern Baptist commitment to opposing antisemitism in all its forms. Additionally, in April 2024, the ERLC sent a letter calling for House leadership to release additional aid to Israel to help in their defense against Hamas terrorists. Ultimately, this aid passed Congress and was signed into law during the last presidential administration.
Gratitude for a peace agreement to end Israel-Hamas war
We celebrate the news of this agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war and efforts to pursue peace in the Middle East. The Christian conviction that every person—Israeli or Palestinian—is made in God’s image and worthy of care has led believers to feed the hungry, tend to the wounded, and shelter the homeless in the midst of intense strife and brutal violence. We are thankful for the way the Church has been praying for and pursuing peace, loving her neighbors, and bringing the hope of the gospel, amid the devastating toll of rocket, fire, and rubble.
Additional Resources
To learn more about how Southern Baptists have engaged recent events in the Middle East, read this explainer detailing the second year of the Israel-Hamas war.
