Leading Christian churches in the Middle East have issued a joint appeal ahead of Easter, calling for peace and the protection of civilians as violence intensifies in southern Lebanon.

The statement, released by the Middle East Council of Churches during Holy Week, comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities in the region. The council, which represents major Christian communities including Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, and Orthodox churches — among them the Antiochian, Jerusalem, Alexandrian, and Cypriot patriarchates — described the current moment as a “time of profound trial.”

Southern Lebanon, referred to in the statement as a land “blessed by Christ,” has once again become a zone of active conflict. “We ask the Lord to pour His peace upon this wounded land and to dispel the darkness of violence with the light of the Resurrection,” the churches said.

The council strongly condemned attacks on civilians, stressing that the protection of human life and dignity must remain a top priority. It also underscored the unacceptability of forced displacement, calling the prevention of people’s expulsion not merely a demand, but a “sacred right.”

In parallel with the appeal, Patriarch John X of Antioch held phone conversations with other prominent church leaders in the region, including Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi and Melkite Patriarch Youssef Absi. According to the Antiochian Patriarchate’s press service, he extended Easter greetings in line with the Western calendar and expressed hope that the celebration of the Resurrection would bring peace to Syria, Lebanon, and the wider region.

The appeal comes as tensions continue to rise following renewed clashes. Since early March, Israeli forces have conducted operations against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon in response to cross-border rocket fire. According to reports citing Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the civilian death toll has exceeded 1,400.

Church leaders concluded their message by urging the international community to act swiftly to prevent further escalation and to safeguard innocent lives, emphasizing that the hope of Easter remains a call for peace even in the darkest times.