THE House of Bishops has called for an instantaneous ceasefire within the Israel-Gaza war, saying that the “manner by which this war is being prosecuted can’t be morally justified” — and that it must not end with the Palestinians living under occupation.
More than 29,000 individuals are reported to have been killed because the conflict began on 7 October (News, 9 October 2023), most of whom (about 28,000) are Palestinian. More than 60,000 individuals are said to have been injured.
Israel has moved to expand its ground operation into Rafah in southern Gaza, the only entry point for humanitarian aid and where greater than half the remaining population (2.3 million people) are currently living, having been displaced by widespread violence. The area was hit by several air-strikes this week.
On Tuesday morning, the House of Bishops jointly released a press release condemning the offensive. “The relentless bombardment of Gaza and its huge cost in civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must stop,” they write.
The statement also argues “for the discharge of the remaining hostages and an end to the missile attacks on Israel by Hamas. All sides must begin to assume a future beyond this conflict: for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians. This war can’t end in the consolidation of a system of occupation that has for too long denied Palestinians their rights and freedoms.”
Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) within the Hague issued a ruling which said that “the catastrophic humanitarian situation within the Gaza Strip is at serious risk of deteriorating”. It ordered Israel to “take all measures inside its power to forestall the commission of all [potentially genocidal] acts” against the Palestinian people (News, 2 February)
The Bishops write: “We urge Israel to stick to the ICJ order and to be sure that Palestinians have access to food, water, healthcare, and safety, which have long been denied to them.
“We welcome the Foreign Secretary’s recent call for an instantaneous pause within the fighting and would also welcome further representation to the Government of Israel concerning the way that it’s exercising its right to self-defence and to affirm adherence to international law.”
The Bishops conclude their statement by condemning “all anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim sentiment” that has arisen within the UK.
Speaking to the Church Times on Monday, the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, who has been outspoken on social media in his calls for a ceasefire, said: “What is going on now shouldn’t be good for Israel, as this war will forged a shadow over the Middle East for at the least a generation.”
He continued: “I even have the people of Israel on my heart as much as I do the Palestinians. I need everyone to flourish, and this war shouldn’t be the way in which, because all sides are suffering.”
Calls for a ceasefire have increased in recent days. On Monday, representatives of the international charity Christian Aid delivered a letter to Downing Street, urging the Government to call for an instantaneous end to hostilities. The letter, signed by 22 other humanitarian agencies and churches, including CAFOD and Quakers in Britain, states: “We are losing confidence in ministers because the UK appears utterly incapable of restraining Israel in its current attempts.”
It asks the Prime Minister “to make use of the UK’s full diplomatic pressure to demand Israel halt its military campaign, which has already resulted within the killing of 28,000 people” and notes with “urgent concern concerning the overnight attacks on Rafah . . . a destructive military campaign on probably the most densely populated stretch on earth”.
The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, said on Monday that Israel should “stop and think seriously” before going into Rafah. “We think it’s inconceivable to see how you’ll be able to fight a war amongst these people. There’s nowhere for them to go.”
At the weekend, the US President Joe Biden had a telephone call with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he said that a “military operation in Rafah shouldn’t proceed with out a credible and executable plan” for the evacuation of civilians, first.
The letter quotes figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, which lists 28,340 Palestinian deaths and shut to 68,000 people injured within the Strip since last October. An additional 164 people were killed and 200 injured in hostilities in Gaza on the weekend.
The UN’s latest estimate of casualties on the weekend were: 1.7 million people displaced; 27,947 deaths; 97,459 injured; and 156 UNWRA colleagues killed. UNWRA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
The House of Bishops’ statement in full
With the onset of Israel’s ground offensive into Rafah, we call for an instantaneous ceasefire. The relentless bombardment of Gaza and its huge cost in civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must stop. The manner by which this war is being prosecuted can’t be morally justified.
We urge Israel to stick to the ICJ order and to be sure that Palestinians have access to food, water, healthcare, and safety, which have long been denied to them. We welcome the Foreign Secretary’s recent call for an instantaneous pause within the fighting and would also welcome further representation to the Government of Israel concerning the way that it’s exercising its right to self-defence and to affirm adherence to international law.
We proceed to advocate for the discharge of the remaining hostages and an end to the missile attacks on Israel by Hamas. All sides must begin to assume a future beyond this conflict: for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians. This war can’t end in the consolidation of a system of occupation that has for too long denied Palestinians their rights and freedoms.
In praying for all those in Israel and Palestine living within the midst of war and the fear of war, we pray particularly for the Palestinian Christian communities, that they might know strength and the presence of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
As we consider the impact of the present conflict within the Middle East on community relations here within the UK, we again condemn all Antisemitic and anti-Muslim sentiment. We are horrified by the growing threats and abuses of Jews on university campuses, in our neighbourhoods, and online. We appeal to our communities to be secure for all people whatever their nationality, ethnicity or religion. For our own part, we commit to working alongside our fellow faith leaders for the common good, despite and with our differences.
