JUSTICE & PEACE SCOTLAND AND JUSTICE & PEACE EUROPE STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Justice & Peace Scotland condemns the recent military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as the retaliatory attacks occurring across Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Israel. This cycle of violence only serves to spread instability and grief throughout the region, breaching international law and placing innocent civilians, especially children, in grave danger.

These hostilities and the reactionary strikes that have followed demonstrate that genuine peace and security can never be achieved through bombing campaigns. True security must instead be sought through dialogue, diplomacy, negotiation, and an unwavering respect for the sacred dignity of every human person. As we witness further amplification of the growing spiral of violence in the region, we call for an immediate de-escalation and a return to the path of non-violence to protect the common good of the entire human family.

As a member Commission of Justice & Peace Europe we fully support and echo the statement issued by the Co-Presidents of J&P Europe on March 2nd, 2026:

"As Co-Presidents of Justice & Peace Europe, we wish to express our profound concern over the ongoing spiral of violence currently afflicting Iran and the broader Middle East region.

"We particularly hold in our hearts the affected populations in Iran and across the region who now undergo yet another trial, following years of tribulation and distress.

"No country, however powerful, should place itself above the core principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Mutual threats and the use of weapons can never constitute a lasting solution to conflicts. On the contrary, they only amplify them: they deepen resentment and hatred, destabilise entire regions and erode the very foundations of global peace and security.

"In the face of a tragedy of immense proportions, the present escalation reflects a confrontational logic that increasingly dominates global politics, rather than adherence to the principles of legitimate defence, which require that all possible peaceful means be exhausted before recourse to force as a last resort.

"We join Pope Leo XIV in his heartfelt appeal to “all the parties involved to assume the moral responsibility of halting the spiral of violence” and to return to the path of “reasonable, sincere and responsible dialogue.” Only diplomacy that safeguards the “well-being of peoples who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice” can sustain hope for a future grounded in mutual respect, cooperation and stability.

"We call upon the European Union and the international community to engage in tireless and united efforts towards de-escalation and the full respect of international law, including international humanitarian law. Respect for the inherent dignity of every human person and particular concern for the poorest and most vulnerable must remain at the heart of these efforts.

"The good of the people — those living in the Middle East, those temporarily present there, and all who suffer the wider consequences of this conflict — must prevail over every political, strategic or economic consideration.

"In this time of Lent, let us especially pray for peace: a peace that is both ‘disarmed and disarming’, capable of touching the hearts of those entrusted with responsibility for the common good. May the Middle East, and indeed the entire world, finally embark upon the path that leads to justice, reconciliation and lasting peace.

Dijon/Copenhagen, 2 March 2026

+Antoine Hérouard
(Co-President, Justice & Peace Europe)

Maria Hammershoy
(Co-President, Justice & Peace Europe)