Morag Mylne and Colin Renwick, the respective conveners of the Church of Scotland's Church & Society Council and World Mission Council, have expressed the Church's concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza, where recent conflict has led to the deaths of 110 Palestinians and three Israelis.

Mylne and Renwick are calling on the UK Government to work with the international community to achieve a ceasefire, end the blockade of Gaza by Israel, and work to bring about an end to rocket attacks against southern Israel.

The current closure and separation of Gaza has increased violence and humanitarian hardship to such an extent that life is now completely intolerable for the residents of Gaza. It also is not compatible with the vision of a viable Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure Israel, which is the present policy of the UK Government, say Mylne and Renwick.

The Church of Scotland also endorses a recent statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC), which condemns attacks on civilians in the Gaza strip and in Israel.

At a meeting on Wednesday in the Church of Scotland offices in Edinburgh, a copy of the WCC statement was handed to the Israeli Ambassador by Kirk representatives.

The statement supports the call to join churches in Jerusalem and Bethlehem in a worldwide prayer for peace on Sunday 8 June 2008, as part of the week of International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel.