Jerusalem’s Church leaders, Archbishop of Canterbury urge restraint in Gaza

By Devin Watkins

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, along with the Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, have issued a joint statement to condemn Israeli airstrikes that hit near St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza.

The blasts led to the collapse of two church halls where scores of refugees, including women and children, were seeking shelter.

The attack resulted in the deaths of eighteen people, nine of whom were children, and left many more injured.

In the statement, Church leaders denounced the attack and others like it that result in the death of civilians.

“In condemning this attack against a sacred place of refuge, we cannot ignore that this is but the latest instance of innocent civilians being injured or killed as a result of missile strikes against other shelters of last resort.”

The Israeli Defense Forces admitted to bombing a command and control center belonging to Hamas, but said that the church was not the target of the strike.

Christian mission to serve suffering people

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches say they remain committed to fulfilling their duty to offer assistance to people in need, despite the destruction of social, religious, and humanitarian institutions.

They and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is making a pastoral visit to the Holy Land to express solidarity with the local Anglican community, also promise that Christian churches will continue providing refuge.

“Even in the face of ceaseless military demands to evacuate our charitable institutions and houses of worship,” they say, “we will not abandon this Christian mission, for there is literally no other safe place for these innocents to turn.”

Recalling Jesus’ injunction to feed and clothe those in need, the Christian leaders say the Church must especially act as the Church “in times of war, for that is when human suffering is at its greatest.”

Appeals for ceasefire and de-escalation

Recognizing that the Church cannot accomplish this mission alone, the statement urges the international community to enforce protections in Gaza for Sanctuaries of Refuge, including schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

The Church leaders also call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, “so that food, water, and vital medical supplies can safely be delivered to the relief agencies ministering to the hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians in Gaza, including those operated by our own churches.”

In conclusion, the Patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem appealed to all parties to the war to “de-escalate the violence, cease from indiscriminately targeting civilians on all sides, and operate within the international rules of warfare.”

“Only in this way, we believe, can the groundwork be laid for an eventual diplomatic consideration of longstanding grievances so that a just and lasting peace can finally be achieved throughout our beloved Holy Land—both in our time, and for generations to come.”