Jerusalem Christians issue international ‘SOS’ for Gaza

‘More than two million Gazans and the remaining 24 live Israeli hostages are all at risk of their lives at every moment,’ said the statement from A Jerusalem Voice for Justice.

An ecumenical group of Christians in Jerusalem issued an “SOS” for Gaza, appealing for renewed international efforts to intervene.

“We are sounding the alarm about the recent unprecedented escalation in the Israeli war on Gaza,” said the statement for “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice”.

Its signatories included the former Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah, the Greek Orthodox Bishop Attallah Hanna, the former Lutheran Bishop of the Holy Land Munib Younan. Among the 12 others were Sami El-Yousef, the chief executive of the Latin Patriarchate, and Fr David Neuhaus SJ, superior of the Jesuit Community at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem.

“Although our voices do not seem to be heard by world leaders,” they said, “we encourage all who have ears to hear and eyes to see, to take action.” They described the situation after “more than a year and a half of death and destruction” as “terrifying”, and said “tens of people are being killed on an almost daily basis” while the closure of civilian facilities threatened medical disaster and starvation.

“More than two million Gazans and the remaining 24 live Israeli hostages are all at risk of their lives at every moment,” they reported.

The group said the Israeli authorities were “pretending that it aims at the distribution of much needed aid”, but alleged that since the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distribution on 26 May, “the screening processes, the difficulties to reach the distribution points and the continued killings of Gazans making their way to these points raise the likelihood that the GHF is a cover for Israeli military operations”.

It said Gazans were being forced to submit to the Israeli authorities to receive supplies, but “using food assistance as part of a war strategy is explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions”.

“The end-goal of removing the Palestinians has been repeatedly openly formulated by Israeli politicians, including members of the government, since President Trump first suggested it on 5 February 2025,” the statement continued.  

Addressing the international community, it said “we beg you not to give up” and appealed for help: “Let us be filled with the energy of the resurrection and of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and recommit to fighting for life and freedom for our brothers and sisters in Gaza and everywhere else in Palestine/Israel.”

In his Pentecost homily at the Benedictine Dormition Abbey, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa acknowledged “the suffering, division, and despair, particularly in Gaza”. He said that, “unity, diversity, community, relationship, sharing, self-giving, love, peace are the words that resonate at Pentecost when we speak of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church”.

Several hundred people joined an interfaith March for Human Rights and Peace in Jerusalem last week, organised by Rabbis for Human Rights. They said the march “was a collective statement of what’s possible when people of different faiths come together with a shared vision for justice and peace”.

Christian Aid condemned the interception by Israeli forces of a boat carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. The Madleen yacht had 12 activists onboard, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, when it was stopped in international waters on its way to Gaza on 9 June. William Bell, Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy at Christian Aid, said: “This ship was a symbol of hope and defiance in the face of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, not only since October 2023, but also for years before. Since March virtually no aid has been allowed into Gaza at all. Starvation in now a reality and the hell that Gaza has become only deepens.”

On 5 June, an Israeli strike hit the Anglican-run Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, killing three people. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem called upon the leaders of the international community to enforce adherence to the Fourth Geneva Convention with provision for special protections for hospitals, medical personnel, journalists and civilians in general.  

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem said, “we stand with Ahli and all those it serves, ensuring that healing and humanity are never out of reach”. Members of Pax Christi USA backed a 40-day Fast for Gaza outside the US Mission to the United Nations in New York.

In Belgium last week, Pax Christi International hosted a meeting with the Parents Circle – Families Forum which brings together Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones in the conflict. They “spread their powerful message of reconciliation and hope”, said Pax Christi. The visit included meetings with the Quaker Council for European Affairs and King Philippe of Belgium.  

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