The United Reformed Church, Christian Aid, other humanitarian agencies and global church leaders have urged the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP to call for an end to fighting in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the 69 international Christian church leaders and aid agencies said 鈥渆nough is enough鈥� as Palestinian families in Gaza are 鈥渨iped out.鈥�
They also condemn the vitriolic 鈥渃rimes of hate鈥� against Jews and Muslims which are 鈥渟training community cohesion and interreligious efforts鈥�.
In the statement, the church leaders say:聽鈥淲e write as religious leaders to say enough is enough. We cannot remain silent as generations of families in Gaza are wiped out in an instant.
鈥淲orld leaders cannot sit by while Palestinian civilians in Gaza experience such catastrophic destruction and trauma.
鈥淭he relentless and unrestrained bombing campaign with horrific indiscriminate effects and the ground invasion by Israel must end.
鈥淲e weep with broken hearts as we hear of hospitals, mosques, churches, and schools damaged and destroyed by this war. In Gaza, there is no safe place. There is no refuge. There is no escape.鈥�
Since 7 October, more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. 1,200 Israelis have also been killed. During the seven-day pause last week more than 100 Israeli hostages were exchanged for 240 Palestinian detainees and some humanitarian aid delivered.
Along with church leaders and other relief agencies, Christian Aid is calling on all world leaders to press for a full and permanent ceasefire to come into effect immediately. The charity says this is the only serious option to stop further loss of civilian life and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe.
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Image: Mohammed al Bardawil/Unsplash.