Israel-Gaza conflict
To help you and your congregation pray for the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, we’ve gathered some helpful resources provided by organisations much closer to the situation. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the conflict, some of these resources and links might not always remain up to date.
The most recent statement from the House of Bishops about the Israel/Gaza conflict came on February 13, and it asks for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages in the context of the relentless bombing of Gaza. Read more here.
Statement from the House of Bishops
The House of Bishops issued a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict on February 13, asking for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages. They said clearly that the manner in which the war is being prosecuted cannot be morally justified, and urged prayer for peace. They also condemned the rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK. Read more here.
Appeal from the Archbishop in Jerusalem
The Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, has joined forces with Archbishop Justin Welby to ask you to pray for peace, to advocate for a just and lasting peace, and to donate to support their ministries in Gaza, Palestine and Israel. Their letter can be read here, and you can donate here.
You can also watch his appeal to the Church of England's General Synod in November 2023, above.
Lambeth Palace
The Archbishop of Canterbury was joined by Muslim and Jewish leaders at Lambeth Palace to condemn the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, and to call for unity between British faith communities against the backdrop of war between Israel and Hamas. Archbishop Justin Welby, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg stood together outside Lambeth Palace and delivered statements calling for solidarity and unity between communities in the UK, and rejecting any form of hatred or discrimination. Click here to read more.
More from the Archbishop of Canterbury
- Archbishop of Canterbury arrives in Jerusalem for pastoral visit to Anglican church
The Archbishop of Canterbury has begun a pastoral visit to Jerusalem, following the explosion at the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. (19/10/2023) - Gaza hospitals are ‘facing catastrophe’, says Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop has called for Israel’s evacuation order on Gaza’s hospitals to be reversed. His call comes as an Anglican-run hospital in Gaza was struck by Israeli rocket fire last night. (15/10/2023) - Archbishops condemn Hamas attacks on Israel – joint statement
Statement from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York on the violence in Israel and Gaza. (07/10/2023)
Prayer resources
- Pray for Peace in Israel and Gaza
A devotional and prayer pointers from 24-7 Prayer.
Interfaith resources
You may want to bring together those from other faiths, to symbolise the shared commitment to peace in your local area. You may therefore be interested in guidelines from the national Church of England about working together with those of other faiths. You can find some details here:
- Guidelines for church leaders regarding interfaith work;
- God's Unfailing Word, published by the Faith & Order Commission in 2019, which sets out a spectrum of differing approaches to Christian-Jewish relationships within an Anglican framework.
Making donations
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Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal to help people affected by the escalation of violence across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Christian Aid works alongside local partners to ensure aid gets to those most in need. Every donation will make a difference; £6 will pay for a basic hygiene kit while a donation of £37 will pay for a food parcel for a family of five in Gaza.
To make a donation, please visit the Middle East Crisis Appeal page on the Christian Aid website.
- Appeal to help those suffering after bombing of Gaza hospital