This essay is by Henry Morgan. Henry is Georgetown student who served as an intern to FGC in 2024. This essay shows the opinions of the author only. It does not represent view of FGC or Georgetown University.

Content Warning: This essay includes references to murder and death.

Quakers and Palestine/Israel

Just as Quakers have continually advocated for human life and peace in past conflicts, they do so today amid the Israeli-Hamas war. In addition to this advocacy, this conflict directly impacted the Quaker community in the form of the tragic Vermont shooting of three Palestinian college students who are alumni of the Ramallah Friends School.^[1] On November 25, 2023, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmad – members of the Quaker family – were celebrating Awartani’s cousin’s 8th birthday. They had just left the party when an unidentified man shot them without saying a word.^[2] 

 Events like this remind us that hatred towards one is hatred toward all. Such senseless, targeted violence demonstrates that the fate of one minority group, in this case Palestinians, is inextricably tied to the fate of every other; be that Quakers, Jewish people, or any other group. The October 7th Hamas attack on innocent Israelis further affirms the point and, in fact, Quakers in Britain issued a statement condemning the violence in the immediate aftermath of the 7th.  Doing so is consistent with the Quakers’ ethos over the years, which includes  advocating for slaves, anti-war activists, Jewish people, and the North Vietnamese.  Quakers have advocated for peace and basic human rights throughout recent history, and they continue to do so today.

This doesn’t mean that the Quakers are entirely neutral in their approach.  They direct their resources, energy and goodwill towards the greatest need. They bemoaned that as of October 11th, “more than 1,200 people have been killed in Israel and more than 900 in Gaza. Over 2,700 people have been injured in Israel, and 4,250 in Gaza.” They mourned the lives lost and called for an immediate end to the conflict, signifying peace and a deep appreciation for human life on both sides of the conflict.^[3]

On November 19, 2023, the Friends Meeting of Washington DC released a minute on the conflict. It strongly and equally condemned both sides, including both the anti-Semitism and Islamophobia surrounding the conflict. Citing humanitarian concerns, they called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and the provision of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. It concluded by emphasizing the “sacred goal of peace, shalom, salaam.”^[4] While a seemingly standard ending for any Quaker document, it holds special significance. By mentioning peace in both its Arabic and Hebrew forms, it rhetorically unites both sides behind an end goal of peace. It represents the Quaker fight for a lasting peace of mutual respect and understanding on both sides.

Of course, this conflict is distinct in its longevity. Although it has been especially prominent since October 7, 2023, Quakers have been advocating for humanitarian aid and a lasting peace for decades.

Consistent with this humanitarian approach, the American Friends Service Committee  has wasted no time building refugee camps throughout the region. Today they operate offices in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Gaza to foster peace while simultaneously providing humanitarian aid on the ground.^[5] Furthermore, British Quakers established the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. Over 1,500 people from 22 countries have served as EAs in the past 22 years. They are on the ground 24/7 and respond to human rights violations, bringing firsthand accounts to global attention. As predominantly UK and US citizens, EAs dissuade violence, thus serving as a protective presence against further settlements considered illegal under international law.^[6]

Simply put, this conflict has been on a slow burn for decades. Throughout this period, Quakers have acknowledged the humanity of all involved. Recognizing that hatred towards one is hatred towards all, Quakers have worked in earnest to provide firsthand aid where it’s needed most, protest violence, and condemn hatred and senseless violence against Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Quaker Activism in the 1940s

In the 1940s, Quakers were presented with a challenge: how could they promote global human rights in the face of Nazism and remain true to the core tenet of nonviolence? How could they reconcile their religious beliefs with the harsh, violent realities that World War II and the Holocaust brought about? Fortunately, the Selective Service Act of 1940 created conscientious exemptions from the combat draft, and Friends qualified for such exemptions because of their religious beliefs. Given this choice, Friends chose nonviolent action. In so doing, they saved countless lives and truly made a difference.

Following the outbreak of WWII, European Friends established the Friends Relief Service (FRS) to provide humanitarian relief across the continent. In bomb-ravaged Britain, the Friends Relief Service and the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) established air-raid shelters and ‘rest centres’ for citizens in highly targeted cities such as London, Bristol, and Glasgow. Throughout the war, Friends also established roughly 80 evacuation hostels, primarily for the elderly, mothers and children, and orphans. For example, two Quaker sisters donated a house outside of Birmingham to shelter 30 children between two and five years of age whose homes had been destroyed by bombs.

As the war’s tide turned in favor of the Allied powers, Friends were able to expand their relief efforts into mainland Europe. The Friends leading this effort were classified as officers and required to wear military uniforms. As a compromise, the Friends Relief Service wore uniforms of Quaker Gray instead of the typical khaki color most soldiers donned. This effectively symbolizes the role Quakers played in the war. They recognized Quaker values would only be sustained through an Allied victory but refused to engage in the bloodshed. Instead, they served a distinct and supplemental role; liberating Jews, the differently-abled, and other minority groups. Instead of resorting to violence, they promoted strength through peace.

This approach characterized the Quaker approach until the war’s end. In April 1945, Friends Relief Service Team 100 was summoned to the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen, which had been liberated by British soldiers a few days prior. They immediately worked to improve hygiene and health conditions within the former camp and set up an impromptu hospital nearby. By June, such teams were dispersed throughout Germany to conduct similar work.

Friends also played a key role in supporting Jewish refugees to the United States. One week after the violent 1938 Kristallnacht pogroms, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) established a Refugee Division tasked with helping refugees escape Nazi Germany, communicate with loved ones, and adjust to the United States. Within a year, the AFSC Vienna and Berlin offices had worked on more than 3,000 cases and met with thousands seeking help. The AFSC also established a network of workshops and hostels intended to support refugees in America; such establishments, primarily located in the Midwest and Northeast, taught refugees about American society and English. By doing so, Friends supported thousands of refugees despite the prevailing xenophobia at the time. As a Jewish descendant of refugees to the United States, I feel a strong sense of admiration and gratitude for the Friends’ actions.

Simply put, Friends in both Europe and the United States had a substantial impact on World War II conditions. While they weren’t fighting on the front lines, their work supporting refugees and mitigating violence in Europe went a long way and truly improved conditions in one of the darkest chapters of global history.

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^[1] https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/26/us/palestinian-students-shot-burlington-vermont/index.html

^[2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/26/us/palestinian-students-shot-burlington-vermont/index.html

^[3] https://afsc.org/newsroom/afsc-joins-civil-disobedience-outside-state-union-demanding-permanent-cease-fire-and-end

^[4] https://www.quakersdc.org/

^[5] https://afsc.org/programs/jerusalem-ramallah-gaza

^[6] https://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/eappi#heading-1