Members of the Rotary Peace Fellows North America & Caribbean Chapter are deeply concerned by the pain caused by the crisis in Gaza and our governments’ roles in perpetuating the violence. We urge immediate adherence to a true ceasefire, as a pathway to the end of the violence and move towards healing. This comes not from an intent to advance a particular position but a deep belief in the humanity of all and a shared mission to advance world peace and understanding throughout our global community.
The following statement builds upon the words published in 2023 by our Rotary Peace Fellow colleagues who called for an immediate ceasefire.
We condemn violence in all forms — the killing and kidnapping of Israeli civilians in the October 7 attack by Hamas militants and the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces retaliatory assault on Gaza that has killed at least tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. We acknowledge the role of the international community to investigate alleged crimes and uphold international laws. We mourn with, and for, our international peacebuilding colleagues, friends, and many other humanitarian personnel caught in this cycle of violence.
We are equally troubled by what often goes unspoken: the erasure of Palestinian humanity and agency in conversations about peace. For 75 years, Palestinians have faced structural violence—severely restricted movement, limited access to water, military rule—while being largely excluded from leadership in processes meant to determine their own future. True peacebuilding cannot happen when one group’s humanity is conditional, when their voices are absent from the table, or when their right to self-determination is denied.
As Rotary Peace Fellows we emphasize the importance of universal human rights and respecting the dignity of all individuals. As such, we applaud all efforts toward a sustainable ceasefire but know that a pause in violence is not peace, but a pathway towards peace. Accepting the rights of others, investing in human capital, having a well-functioning government, and fostering good relations with neighbors are all essential pillars to build more peaceful, resilient communities and should be one of the many avenues pursued to break the cycle of violence and move towards peace in Israel and Palestine.
As Rotary Peace Fellows whose beliefs are anchored in non-violent conflict resolution:
- We support international justice and accountability efforts that are led by the civilians impacted by this conflict, particularly Palestinian voices.
- We strongly support non-violent initiatives in the region to address the structural violence that Palestinians have faced daily for the past 75 years and end the Israeli occupation.
- We ask for psychosocial support resources to be made available to all people impacted by this conflict.
- We urge that the voices and experiences of Palestinian and Israeli civilians be centered in all decision-making regarding their shared future, including direct representation of these groups in the leadership of any future conflict resolution processes.
- We have a responsibility to hold each person and group of people in dignity – we denounce all expressions of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.
- When condemning atrocities and actions, we urge us all to hold leaders responsible for decisions, not collective groups of people.
This moment calls us to work together to become peacemakers, to unite as a global community to uphold these values and support essential humanitarian and peacebuilding processes.
“In the cold, shivering twilight, preceding the daybreak of civilization, the dominating emotion of man was fear.” In the midst of one of history’s darkest hours, these words by a visionary Chicago lawyer, Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International, dared to envision a world marked by unity, collaboration, and lasting friendships. His simple yet profound idea was to establish a round table where people from all walks of life come together to exchange ideas, foster lifelong connections, and give back to their communities. This initial round table gathering evolved into one of the planet’s largest humanitarian service organizations – playing a significant role in the foundation of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Rotary gave rise to the Rotary Foundation, which in turn created the global Rotary Peace Fellowship, numbering 1,800 fellows now working in more than 140 countries, many of whom are also Rotarians. Rotary Peace Fellows stand as highly specialized champions of peace, serve as leaders in governments, non-governmental organizations, the arts, health programs, education initiatives, research institutions, peacekeeping, law enforcement, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.
We invite Rotarians into dialogue and actions with Rotary Peace Fellows, acknowledging that the hard work of peacebuilding will entail engaging with different perspectives and experiences, without the expectation of consensus. This means:
- Listening to Palestinian and Israeli voices who are living this reality and leading grassroots peace efforts in their communities;
- Exploring together what it means to support civilian-led initiatives for justice, healing, and reconciliation;
- Learning about the structural conditions that perpetuate violence and how we can address root causes, not just symptoms;
- Connecting Rotarians with resources, organizations, and individuals doing transformative work on the ground;
- Supporting one another as we navigate complex emotions and challenging questions about our role in peacebuilding.
Grassroots peacebuilding happens in community meetings, in cross-cultural dialogues, in trauma healing circles, in youth programs that build bridges, and in the daily acts of resistance against dehumanization. As Rotarians and Peace Fellows, we have the networks, resources, and commitment to support these efforts—but only if we are willing to engage in conversation, even when it’s uncomfortable and when it invites us to look at our own shadow.
Please email [email protected] to begin the conversation and access resources. Let us know what questions you have, what expertise you bring, or how you’d like to be involved in supporting peace movements. This is how change happens: one conversation, one connection, one commitment at a time.
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