Archbishop Theodosios (Hanna) of Sebasteia speaks

His Eminence the Archbishop Theodosios (Hanna) has some words to say about the recent bloodshed in Palestine, to which I can add only, ‘tolle, lege’:

We do not advocate war, violence and murder, but at the same time we are not neutral about the issue of our Palestinian people. We are with our oppressed and beleaguered people, who have the right to live freely in their homeland, like the other peoples of the world.

Palestinians will not surrender to occupation, oppression, exploitation and besiegement. And Palestinians will not surrender to any policy of repression, blackmail or [political] pressure aimed at eliminating the Palestinian issue.

Our people are living persons who love life, freedom and dignity, and we say to the authors of the slogans of peace to place the first and foremost emphasis on justice. In no way should the executioner and the victim be placed in the same category. Our people are victims of the occupation that will surely disappear, and we as Palestinian Christians stand with our people in this cause. It is our cause, and these people are our people. God help the people who face conspiracy upon all sides, but the Palestinians will not raise the banner of surrender.

Greetings to the souls of the martyrs and greetings to all those who associate and defend these lands, its sanctity and sanctities.

To this world that claims to be civilized and rich in democracy and freedoms, we say that you bear a certain degree of responsibility: because you witness the dangerous violations in Jerusalem and other Palestinian sites, and you ignore the unjust practices of the [Israeli] occupation.

The images of destruction, death and blood hurt us. And we will remain, as we were, advocates of peace based on justice, not on surrender. Peace is one thing and surrender is another. And I believe that the message of the Palestinians to the whole world is that we will not surrender no matter how much they attack us, no matter how much they conspire against our holy places and our people.

We feel sorrow and pain for every drop of blood that flows, especially that of civilians and innocents. We are not advocates of violence and murder. But we are advocates of right and justice, of the defence of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to live in freedom and dignity.