BibleLands joins calls for end to Gaza blockade

BibleLands, the largest UK non-governmental provider of financial support to the Holy Land, has added its voice to calls from a number of church bodies and NGOs for an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Chief Executive, Nigel Edward-Few, said, "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical and as the largest UK non-governmental provider of support to the region, we are well aware of the impact of the political situation on the lives of civilians."

Christian Aid, CAFOD, Amnesty International, Oxfam and Save The Children were among a coalition of NGOs behind a report released this week which warned that the Israeli blockade of Gaza was a "collective punishment" contributing to the worst humanitarian crisis to hit Gaza since 1967.

"Our overseas partners' reports show the daily struggle which they face as they seek to serve their communities," continued Mr Edward-Few. "Shortages of electricity and fuel as well as medical supplies, along with a reliance on food aid endanger the work of the hospitals we support. The stories of individuals often get swallowed up in the political news agenda and we have a duty to make sure their voices are heard."

Mr Edward-Few added that a number of BibleLands grants had failed to reach overseas partners in Gaza due to the political turmoil.

"This clearly has an impact on the services which they can provide to their communities," he said.

Fighting in the troubled Middle East region reached crisis point in the past week, after Hamas militants shot dead eight students at a Jewish seminary on Thursday.

The Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council and World Mission Council has called on the British Government to work with the international community to achieve a ceasefire and end the Gaza blockade, as well as work to bring rocket attacks against southern Israel to a halt.

Earlier in the week, the World Council of Churches issued a statement condemning the attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip and Israel, and urging Christians to get behind churches in Jerusalem and Bethlehem by joining in a worldwide day of prayer for peace on Sunday 8 June. The day of prayer is part of the week of International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel.

Representatives of the Church of Scotland handed a copy of the WCC statement to the Israeli Ambassador in a meeting at the Church of Scotland offices in Edinburgh on Wednesday.