In the face of conflict and tragedy we cannot remain still or silent
Over the past 2 and a half years we have been calling on churches in the UK to pray, to give and to act in support of a just peace in Israel and Palestine.
You did. And you continue to do so.
Read on for a run-down of what we've done so far and what we're calling for.
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Timeline of actions
- In October 2023, we stood in silent vigil outside the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, remembering all those killed, injured and held hostage. We bore witness to their stories and called for a ceasefire.
- Alongside CAFOD, Oxfam, Save the Children and Action Against Hunger we presented over 300,000 signatures to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office demanding a ceasefire.
- We also gathered 28 leaders of churches and Christian organisations to sign a statement calling for a ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unfettered humanitarian access.
- Just before Christmas 2023, working with fellow humanitarian and development organisations we projected messages on to the Houses of Parliament asking ‘How many killed is too many?’
- In January the following year, we placed a letter in the Times calling out the UK's complicity in the slaughter of innocent civilians.
And in March , we joined Oxfam and others to organise a lobby day in the UK Parliament - constituents like you lobbied almost 50 MPs. Over the following months hundreds more have written to MPs, joined marches and made your voices heard.
- At the same time Christian Aid supporters have been getting your churches involved in the call for a just peace too. You have shared testimony of Christian Aid partners, organised film screenings and encouraged your fellow church goers to give, act and pray for those most impacted.
In the summer of 2024 we presented two heartbreaking letters written by Gaza children the Prime Minister on behalf of our partner, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). The letters asked him to intervene and help bring about a permanent ceasefire.
- A year later, Rev'd Canon Richard Sewell from Dean's College, Jerusalem declared it’s time for action, not talking and there’s no time to lose. Those in our world who have the power to stop this famine must do it now. ‘The suffering people of Gaza don’t need a “limited amount of food”, they need a just and lasting peace so they can rebuild their lives. He, alongside hundreds of Christian Aid supporters joined the worldwide weekly Fast 4 Gaza, which continues to this day.
- And last September Christian Aid joined the Red Lines for Gaza campaign, leading public actions outside the Welsh and UK Parliaments. as part of this national campaign dozens of churches across the UK drew their own red lines for Gaza.
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What now
Despite the ceasefire, lives are still being lost. A just and lasting peace is by no means guaranteed.
New controls in the occupied West Bank are now deepening Israel's controls on property rights and further weakening the Palestinian Authority. This continued and expanding illegal occupation is a huge main obstacle to a just peace.
We'll be keeping the pressure on the UK Government to do all it can to support and jus and lasting peace, as a start, the UK Government could announce a ban on all goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank being sold in the UK.
"This is yet another nail in the coffin of the Palestinian state. Until the UK Government and others start to hold Israel to account for such moves then their recognition of Palestine as a state means very little."
Your actions, donations and prayers make a huge difference
Join us in keeping up the pressure on the UK Government.
Sign the petition or contact your MP today
Meanwhile our established partners in the region are responding as best they can.
