Statement from the International Network for Peace Psychology on the conflict between Israel and Palestine
As the International Network for Peace Psychology (INPP), we urge for a peaceful and just end to the war in the Middle East. We are a diverse group of specialists in human behaviour, who are working in various ways to apply psychology to the promotion of peace, justice, decolonisation, and de-escalation of conflict. Given this diversity, our individual members are affected in different ways by the war, some of us in quite personal ways, and have various perspectives on the most ethical and just route forward. We are united by our dedication to peace and our adherence to the principles of science.
Research documents the negative impacts of dehumanising other groups, and we condemn the use of anti-Jewish and anti-Arab rhetoric. We urge reporters, institutions, press, governmental agencies, and others to recognize the gravity of the situation and responsibly report on the stories from the war zone in a way that avoids demonizing one side. Partisan reporting contributes to and fuels violence. The impacts of exposure to violence go beyond physical injuries, and can have long-term, lasting psychological consequences and trauma for individuals and societies.
Although we recognize that there is a complicated and long history that has led to the current situation, we condemn the use of violence to push for political change. We especially urge an end to all killing. We stress the importance of protecting civilians. This includes the protection of civilians in Gaza who must have access to basic resources for human life.
The United Nations Secretary General has called for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and to rescind the evacuation order; and we echo this call. We urge adherence to humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties to the conflict. What is urgently needed is not only an end to the bloodshed, but a commitment by all parties to a negotiated just peace that acknowledges unequal power and brings an end to structural violence and oppression as well as killing.
INPP stands in solidarity with those working to bring a peaceful and just end to the conflict and those who are working to protect civilian life. The negotiated path to sustainable peace will then require the dismantling of structural inequalities and promotion of social justice, and international support of this mission can help to make this a reality.
Signed by the following INPP Committee members:
Dr Nikola Balvin, International Network for Peace Psychology, Australia Prof. Dr. Klaus Boehnke, Constructor University, Bremen, Germany Adjunct Research Professor Diane Bretherton, Adjunct Research Professor, Batchelor Institute, Australia Professor Emeritus Dan Christie, Ohio State University, USA Prof. Dr. Chaitali Das, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Germany Professor Emeritus Andrew Dawes, Psychology Department University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Reeshma Haji, Laurentian University, Canada Associate Professor Yayah Khisbiyah, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia Dr Siew Fang Law, University of Melbourne, Australia Professor Wilson Lopez, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, ColombiaProfessor Winnifred Louis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia Dr. Lucienne Lunn, International Network for Peace Psychology, USA Professor Emeritus Cristina Montiel, Department of Psychology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines Professor Hamdi Muluk, Department of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia Professor Ann Sanson, University of Melbourne, Australia Professor Emerita Judith Van Hoorn, University of the Pacific, USA Professor Mike Wessells, Columbia University, USA