UPF International: Protecting Civilians, Restoring Dialogue in Middle East — Tageldin Ibrahim Hamad

The Universal Peace Federation expresses deep concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East. Each escalation places civilians at the center of the crisis causing loss of life, displacement, and severe disruption to essential services and daily life.

UPF stands in solidarity with civilians across the region who are enduring the human cost of conflict. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, prioritize the protection of civilian populations, and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

Working alongside religious leaders and people of faith from many traditions, UPF reaffirms the inherent dignity and sacred value of every human life. Across cultures and faith traditions, this principle is often expressed through the belief that each person is created in the image of God. This conviction underlies universal human rights and international humanitarian law and serves as a moral foundation for efforts to protect civilians and pursue peaceful resolution of conflict.

This statement is issued during UPF’s 100 Days of Serving Community campaign, which promotes collaboration among civil society, faith communities, and institutions to strengthen service, dialogue, and cooperation in addressing global challenges.

Even in the most difficult moments of conflict, compassion, restraint, and moral responsibility must prevail. If humanity is truly one family under God, no conflict can erase the dignity and worth of human life. War ultimately tests the human conscience by asking whether we will allow suffering to become ordinary, invisible, or acceptable.

UPF’s concerns align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 17, which highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing global challenges, including conflict prevention and peacebuilding. They also reflect the United Nations Security Council’s long-standing agenda on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

To reduce human suffering and prevent further escalation, UPF encourages all parties to pursue sustained diplomacy through United Nations-mediated channels, consistent with the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law.

UPF contributes to these efforts through long-standing interfaith and Track II initiatives in the region. Through the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), UPF convenes religious leaders to address the ethical and spiritual dimensions of peacebuilding. Through the Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI), UPF facilitates dialogue and trust-building among communities in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan.

As a non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UPF seeks to complement official diplomacy by fostering dialogue across religious, cultural, and political divides.

UPF’s founders, Dr. Hak Ja Han and the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, emphasized that peace begins in the family and expands outward through a life lived for the sake of others. This ethic links personal responsibility with community healing and affirms the dignity and value of every human being.

Peace will endure only when families, communities, and nations choose responsibility for one another, service to their neighbor, and sustained dialogue, instead of dehumanization. Guided by the vision of One Family under God, UPF remains committed to cooperation across religions, nations, and cultures.

In this urgent moment, UPF invites religious leaders, civil society organizations, and multilateral partners to collaborate in initiatives that promote reconciliation, humanitarian cooperation, and sustained dialogue.

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ABOUT WORKS INITIATIVES UPF HISTORY @ D in ••

UNIVERSAL PEACE We are one human fami ly created by God. The way to rise above the pursuit of self- interest is to recognize our common humanity, given to us by our FEDERATION: Creator. Just as a parent can intercede in t he disputes of children. the parental heart originating from the Creator can help us resolve the PRINCIPLES differences that exist between nations, cultures and religions.

The highest qualities of the human being are spiritual and moral in nature. Human beings long for t ruth, beauty and goodness. Life’s deepest meaning and purpose can be found through their pursuit. Each person has an eternal spirit that transcends physical life. Spiritual principles are to be practiced in this life so that we are prepared for t he eternal world.

The fami ly is the ·school of love and peace.” In the family, the most basic personal and public virtues are learned. Understanding the family as the school of love helps us to recognize that fa mily is the most essential institution. The foundation for a healthy family is a faithful, committed marriage.

Living for the sake of others is the way t o reconcile t he divided human family. By practicing living for the sake of others. we become other-centered rather than self-centered. The essence of good character is true love expressed through unselfish actions.

Peace comes through cooperation beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, religi on and nationality. Lasting peace cannot be achieved through political compromise atone, but requires addressing the root causes of conflict. Transcending racial, religious and ethnic barriers is an imperative of our time. Faith can give people the power to forgive, and the love to overcome even generations of hatred, resentment and violence.

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Ambassador for Peace PrincipJ.es. from UniYersaI Peace federation International

0 Universal Peace Federation II Universal Peace Federation is an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

We support and promote the work of the United Nations and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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