Pax Christi and Cafod are among those urging Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton to call for peace and for international law to be upheld in the Holy Land. Nearly 7,000 people have signed a letter on Cafod’s website calling for, “the urgent cessation of the current violence and progress towards a lasting peace in the region”.
Lobbying has been kept up after MPs rejected an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on 15 November. It was defeated by 125 votes to 294, with 56 Labour rebels joining other opposition parties to demand a ceasefire, against the Conservatives who opposed it. At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's assault on Israel on 7 October and about 240 others were taken hostage. Since Israel started its counter-attack, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has said 11,500 people have been killed in the territory. Pax Christi England and Wales has suggested that people thank their MPs who voted for a ceasefire.
The words, “MPs - Vote for Peace: Vote Ceasefire Now” were projected onto Parliament ahead of the vote in the House of Commons. MPs were urged to heed the calls of civilians and humanitarian organisations in Gaza, as well as more than 300,000 members of the public who signed petitions in the UK.
The projection was organised by ActionAid UK and supported by Action Against Hunger UK, Age International, Cafod, Care International UK, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief UK, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Save the Children UK and War Child. Scotland’s Catholic Bishops wrote to prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, urging them to support Pope Francis’ call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “The devastating loss of civilian life and humanitarian suffering in Gaza cannot be morally justified. The call for a ceasefire is a moral cry – for humanity to find another way to achieve justice, security and peace for Israelis and Palestinians.”
In the House of Lords, the Anglican Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, said, “A ceasefire in Gaza is not only to be hoped for but needs to begin now.” He is among Church leaders concerned to support the small Palestinian Christian community in Israel. In a statement on 19 November the bishops of the Church in Wales called for a ceasefire. “We are making an urgent call for both the immediate release of all hostages and for safe passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We believe that only a ceasefire will secure the delivery of this aid and is the prerequisite to the commencement of a diplomatic route forward, leading to a two-state solution for the people of Israel and Palestine.”
Thousands of people took part in local peace demonstrations and vigils across the UK last Saturday. In north London, a group including Muslims, Christians and Jews gathered outside the office of their local MP, Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer, calling for a ceasefire. Scotland Justice and Peace joined the call for a ceasefire in Gaza at a “ceasefire gathering” at Glasgow Green. A vigil of hope was held in Winchester Cathedral last Sunday where prayers were said for the people of Israel and Gaza.
On Monday morning Medical Aid for Palestinians was outside the Global Hunger Summit in London, urging UK Government to uphold its role as custodian of UN Security Council Resolution 2417, which prohibits starvation as a weapon of war. It was highlighted that after six weeks of Israel’s siege, food for Gaza’s 2.2 million population is running out and there are severe shortages of fuel and clean water for cooking.
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