Individuals and organisations on the island worried about children affected by the Israel-Hamas War have crafted a statement, which was read outside City Hall.

Ajai Peets, from Bermuda Youth Connect, read the statement, which highlighted Catherine Russell, the executive director of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, who called for a ceasefire during a briefing at the UN Security Council last week.

According to the statement, Ms Russell also requested “safe and immediate access to humanitarian aid” in the region and the “immediate unilateral release of all abducted children”, and to give them “special protection for which they are all entitled”.

Ms Peets read: “While we recognise that highly respected legal scholars describe the ongoing brutal punishment as a gross violation of international law, we wish to clarify that our support is simply in terms of reverence for all life, regardless of nationality or religion, especially those of defenceless children.”

Jamaine Tucker, the pastor at Christ Church in Devonshire, who signed the statement, spoke at the event.

He said: “While I stand today as a Christian minister, I also stand with brothers and sisters from both sides of the border – Jerusalem, Israel and the West Bank, all the way down to Gaza.”

Imam Saleem Talbot told attendees: “Jerusalem means the city of peace; I pray that Bermuda itself, not just the City of Hamilton, becomes a place of peace.

“We pray for justice and peace in the land of Palestine, that is what we want to invite you to consider.”

Glenn Fubler, from Imagine Bermuda, which also approved the statement, encouraged people to empathise with those affected by war.

He said: “We have to use our empathy muscles and see how we can make a difference.

“This is one way of making a difference by stakeholders across the community coming together and making a statement.”

Many people, including former premier Alex Scott; Joan Dillas-Wright, president of the Senate; former Speaker of the House Randy Horton; and former attorney-general Philip Perinchief, signed the statement.

In addition to Imagine Bermuda and Bermuda Youth Connect, the statement was approved by representatives from Bermuda is Love, the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, the Human Rights Commission, Social Justice Bermuda and Bermuda Islamic Cultural Centre.