[Location: Kerem Shalom Crossing, Gaza-Israel Border, August 29, 2024]
The vigil, organized by an interfaith peace delegation led by Rabbis for Ceasefire and Christians for Ceasefire took place at the Rafah Crossing, on the Israel side, amidst four audible air strikes across the border, and with tanks and other military vehicles passing by. The crossing is the main route for humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza. However, hardly any UN trucks of humanitarian aid could be seen by the faith leaders. The crossing area was empty and bleak.
The faith leaders held a large banner, “Many Faiths for Gaza” and stood together around a central altar laid down on a keffiyeh, adorned with symbols and offerings from the faiths. The vigil began with a statement of purpose expressing collective grief and unity in their demand for an end to the conflict. Prayers and reflections were offered by representatives of each faith, underscoring a shared commitment to peace, compassion, and solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Photo: Will All DuPraw.
Powerful Hindu and Buddhist Prayers for Peace
A Hindu prayer led by Sunita Viswanath of Hindus for Human Rights drew on the wisdom of Lord Krishna, the God of Preservation, and Lord Shiva, the God of Destruction and Regeneration :
“We pray to Lord Krishna to preserve what is left of our humanity and our goodness and to stop this atrocity. Lord Shiva, the God of destruction, destroy the evil that is happening here today and regenerate what comes after destruction: love, peace, and justice.”
Sunita concluded with a Vedic chant, the Mahamrityunjana Mantra, sung at the time of death:
“Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.”
A Buddhist prayer by Maung Zarni, Burmese human rights activist and genocide scholar, captured the deep sorrow and urgency felt by those witnessing the conflict, invoking the Buddhist principles of impermanence (Annica), suffering (Dhukka), and the practice of letting go (Anatta):
“As a Burmese and a Buddhist, I cannot keep my mouth shut when Israel is perpetrating a fully-fledged textbook genocide in Gaza. Seeing the tanks coming out of Gaza and hearing the airstrikes at this Rafah Crossing makes me feel I am standing in front of a mass grave. Gaza is a mass grave in the making.”
FORSEA’s Maung Zarni with the inter-faith delegation to Gaza, 29 Aug 2024. Photo: Will All DuPraw.
The vigil was a powerful testament to the strength of interfaith unity in the face of unimaginable suffering. Through moments of silence, heartfelt prayers, and songs like “We Shall Overcome” and “Palestine Will Be Free,” participants reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to justice and peace. They called on the global community to act with urgency and compassion, to bear witness to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and to demand an immediate end to the violence. The delegation urged people of all faiths and backgrounds to refuse complicity in the face of injustice, to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, and to join their voices in a collective outcry for a ceasefire, an arms embargo, and a free Palestine. Their message was clear: in times of darkness, it is our shared humanity that must guide us toward a future of peace, dignity, and freedom for all.
See a Hindu delegate’s Palestine Diary here: https://m.thewire.in/article/rights/palestine-diary-gaza-genocide
See The Guardian: Israeli military launches fatal airstrike on humanitarian aid convoy in Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/29/israel-airstrike-aid-convoy-gaza
Contact Information:
Members of the interfaith delegation, including representatives from Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) and their allies, are available for interviews while on the ground in Israel and Palestine. The delegation will be present in the region through September 5, and they are eager to share their firsthand experiences, insights, photos and videos, and reflections on the current situation.
Journalists interested in speaking with delegation members, including Sunita Viswanath and Maung Zarni, and their partners from various faith communities, are encouraged to reach out for more information and to arrange interviews.
Please contact David Kalal, Director of Communications for HfHR at
Photo: Will All DuPraw.
Photo: Will All DuPraw.
