General Assembly condemns war on Gaza as it prays for peace in the Middle East

The General Assembly has condemned the resumption of the war on Gaza as it continued to pray for peace with justice in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

Commissioners backed a deliverance that criticised the blockade of food and humanitarian aid, the ongoing forcible displacement of Gazans and the continued holding of hostages.

Rev David Cameron, convener of the Assembly Trustees, said the churches of the world "cannot remain silent" in the face of such appalling inhumanity.

The deliverance instructed the Assembly Trustees, in collaboration with the Faith Action Leadership Team, to advocate to the UK Government that it must exert all efforts to uphold International Humanitarian Law.

It calls on the UK Government to advocate for a ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade on food and humanitarian aid and the release of the remaining hostages.

It renews a call to the UK Government to stop granting export licenses for the sale of weapons to Israel and encourages the Church to engage in prayer and advocacy for the peace of Israel and Palestine.

The Most Reverend Hosam Elias Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, addressed the General Assembly.

"We are very grateful for our partnership together as the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Church of Scotland in the Holy Land," he said.

"We continue to have a blockade in effect for almost three months now and today we have heard that aid will start to be distributed to the people of Gaza.

"Hospitals continue to be bombed and advocacy is urgently needed for Israel's adherence to the Geneva Conventions as the current policies are unacceptable.

"No bombing of hospitals and lifting the siege, the restoration of humanitarian supplies including food and medicine, no targeting of civilians, especially emergency workers and medical staff and also media personnel.

"A permanent ceasefire is needed to end the war and the rebuilding of Gaza.

"We all pray for the just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, for a two-state solution and it continues to be the only way, as churches in Jerusalem, living side by side in security and peace and neighbourhood conviviality as we did for so many centuries."

Mr Cameron said: "The all-out war waged by the government of Israel against Gaza and its people continues.

"For months we have seen the weaponisation of hunger in the war, resulting now in the deliberate starvation of Gazans, in violation of International Humanitarian Law.

"We note today that the Israeli Government will allow limited humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"The World Council of Churches has this week reaffirmed its ‘unwavering commitment' to the principles of international law and justice, without discrimination in all contexts

"Together with our partners, including the Episcopalian and Lutheran Churches, Rabbis for Human Rights, Women Wage Peace, the Sabeel Liberation Theology Centre, and Praying Together in Jerusalem, we have asserted the sanctity of human life, the dignity of all people, and the equal right of all to live in security and peace, against the killing, racism, displacement and degradation of the war.

"We continue to join with millions throughout the world in praying for an end to the war, and the beginning of healing and the rebuilding of streets to live in.

"In Jerusalem, the Church of Scotland is involved through the annual Interfaith March for Human Rights and Peace, on 28 of May."