The aim is to raise £5,000 to provide vital support and aid through partner agencies Christian Aid, the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), and the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC).

Recent reports reveal a grim reality: on 18 March, it was declared Gaza’s two million people are experiencing “severe levels of acute food insecurity”.

In a statement, : “This is unprecedented. No IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) analysis has ever recorded such levels of food insecurity anywhere in the world.”

This is first time an entire population has been classified in this way.

In emphasising the dire situation in Gaza, William Bell, Christian Aid’s Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy, said: “nobody is safe, but still our partners are doing extraordinary work in the most extreme conditions”.

Commitment for Life is devastated by the violence, scale of destruction and loss of life in Gaza��affecting friends and partners of the �������� in the region and is launching its to do what it can to help aid partner agencies on the ground.

The Revd Dr Kevin Snyman, Programme Officer – ����������Global Justice & Partnerships, said: “The October 7��attacks devastated many communities in Israel, a close-knit society on the whole, and one deeply anxious about the anger and vitriol directed towards it.

“But there can be no justification for such widespread, indiscriminate killing.

“We are gravely concerned about Israel’s military response, which the International Court of Justice views as ‘plausibly’ genocidal. We are desperately worried for the entire population in the Gaza Strip, and increasingly in the West Bank.”

CFTA is working across refugee camps in Rafah is piloting two ways of addressing basic needs using local, existing mechanisms. The first is water distribution for hygiene by working with well owners across Gaza. The second is working with local farmers who are risking their lives to tend their crops, then distributing vegetables to their communities.

PARC is providing food for displaced Gaza refugees, who finding themselves in the most desperate of circumstances.

“These brave people need our support,” added Kevin. “Please give generously to this appeal.”

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Every contribution makes a difference in helping those affected by the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Your generosity will help provide essential resources and support to those in need during these challenging times. Thank you for your compassion and support.

You can also scan this QR code to donate.

Images are .

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The Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly and the Revd Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator-Elect of the National Synod of Scotland, have joined the call.

In the statement, released on 27 October, the faith leaders and Christian organisations unequivocally condemned the violence carried out by Hamas in Israel on 7 October, and expressed grave concern at the mounting death toll across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. A demand for the release of all kidnapped victims has also been made.

The latest United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) update, dated 26 October, reports 7,028 Palestinians have been killed and 18,482 injured in Gaza. Following the weapon strike on the Al Ahli Anglican Episcopal hospital last week, Christian Aid has been calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to carry out an independent investigation into all war crimes to ensure accountability.

One of Christian Aid’s medical partners in Gaza explained: “Now we are worried about what will happen to other hospitals that have also been told to evacuate. Especially Al Shifa hospital, which takes half of the injured in Gaza.”

They added: “We are worried that hospitals will stop operating because of a shortage of fuel. We don’t know if hospitals have the fuel to keep going for days or hours.”

As the humanitarians warn that fuel is all but run out in Gaza, the same partner goes on to urge the international community to “pressure Israel to allow water, fuel and medication to enter Gaza and to allow medical teams to enter and to keep them protected so they can treat injured people”.

Christian Aid’s Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy, William Bell, said: “Our established partners in Gaza continue to respond as best they can, but to respond at scale we need unfettered humanitarian access with water and electricity reconnected. Only a full ceasefire will deliver aid safely and effectively.”

Read the statement in full below:

Christian Aid, the undersigned church leaders and Christian organisations are gravely concerned by the mounting death toll across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. There can be no justification for the deliberate killing, maiming and kidnapping of civilians, which is a crime under international law and for which the perpetrators should be held accountable. We unequivocally condemn the violence carried out by Hamas in Israel on 7 October.

The subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza has added enormously to the toll of civilian suffering. Innocent Palestinians are going through an increasingly grave humanitarian crisis as a result the Israeli government’s strategy of relentless bombardment, which has left no place safe, and of siege, which effectively strangles life. The death toll in Gaza is over 7,000 and, with no end in sight, will no doubt dramatically rise.

We call on all governments with influence to help bring about an immediate end to the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Specifically, we call for the following steps to be taken:

• Protection of civilians and an end to all violence, with adoption of a ceasefire without conditions.
• The unconditional and immediate release of all hostages.
• Unfettered and immediate humanitarian access, as urged by the UN, including immediate reconnection to water and electricity.
• Unequivocal support for the ICC to conduct a truly independent investigation into all war crimes to ensure accountability.
• Acknowledgement of the failure of the international community to effectively engage with any meaningful peace process, and a commitment to work ceaselessly from now on to address the root causes of the violence which must include an end to the occupation.

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Learn about Christian Aid’s Middle East Crisis Appeal.

Image: Mohammed Ibrahim/Unsplash.

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You Shall Not Kill

O Lord,
we hear the news and don’t know what to say,
we see those scenes of violence and don’t know how to pray;
we read of people fighting over the Land and know it was ever thus.

We see the surprise and shock,
hear the cries for revenge,
taste the violence begetting more pain and sorrow,
and touch the bitterness of oppression and loss breeding yet more violence;
a vicious circle that destroys life and land leading to despair and hopelessness.

We hear of international outrage and messages of support,
but know there’s more to this complex story of land, justice, faith, security, and history
than can be encapsulated in easy sound bites.

We watch, listen, read, and try to pray but there are no words in us.

Lord, You told us not to kill;
a commandment venerated and wrestled with by Jews, Christians, and Muslims;
a hard commandment:
one we always want some wiggle room with
yet today we see Your children killing each other.

Violence
as a weapon of oppression,
purporting to be a weapon of protest,
seeking to be a bargaining chip
disfigures our humanity, distorts our perception, and disables our discipleship.

In these desperate times, Lord, give strength to those who work for peace:
diplomats and governments calling for restraint,
the Red Cross offering to visit all who are detained,
faith leaders proclaiming Your commandments in a world at war
and peace lovers praying for justice.

Bind up the broken hearted,
give grace to those seeking to end the spiral of violence,
grant wisdom to those seeking peaceful ways to resolve age old conflicts;
and give us the prayers, words, and perseverance needed
to make our discipleship, our efforts for peace and justice count.�� Amen.

Why the hell can’t you stop this, Lord?

Why the hell can’t you stop this, Lord?
Why can’t You protect the women and children?
They will suffer the most: hiding in cellars and safe rooms.
Children too afraid to go out to play or attend school.
Wives and lovers scared to death about those taken hostage.
Women crying in dark and fear whilst the men plan to wage war and seek revenge!

Why the hell can’t you stop this, Lord?
Those kids won’t grow up to trust and make peace.
Israeli kids will be taught to fear their neighbours and look at the sky with trepidation;
Palestinian children will suffer in yet more blockades, further economic punishment,
new life-limiting travel restrictions, additional educational restrictions.
Children from all sides learning to hate and wage war!

Why the hell can’t you stop this, Lord?
Hundreds have been killed, thousands wounded,
hostages taken, people afraid to leave their homes for fear of fighting.
Political leaders will seek to maximise their importance,
using dreadful words and tools to legitimise their views,
whilst the world looks on wringing its hands!

Why the hell can’t you stop this, Lord?
You’re Almighty aren’t You?
Jew, Christian, Muslim – all agree on that don’t we?
You’ve the power so use it!
Show some of that glory we say You have!
Don’t you care for the women and the children, Lord?

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Has the Cross taught you nothing, my child?
Might is found in weakness, power in humility, glory at the tip.
I weep with the women and the children;
I rage at the violence and hatred;
I curse the hypocrisy.
I’ve been to Hell remember, but it’s up to you to stop it.

For Peace and Justice

O Most High,
Your people rage over the Land,
war and terror engulf those who seek to follow You,
hundreds have died, thousands have been wounded,
and this is just the beginning.

Jesus, Incarnate Word,
give strength to those working for peace in the midst of war;
doctors, nurses, and medics tending the wounded,
fire fighters and rescue workers pulling people from the ruin of their lives,
regional leaders calling for calm.

Eternal Flame of Love,
teach us all the ways of peace;
bring to justice those:
who wage war, violence and terror,
who limit life, steal land, use law to oppress.

Eternal Trinity,
show us quickly how to turn away from violence,
pursue costly justice
and live in peace with each other and with the earth.
Amen.

Image: Mohammed Ibrahaim/Unsplash.

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