Tag: Israel

Bishop of Worcester asks about steps towards a ceasefire and investigation into the conflict in Gaza

The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answer on 29th January 2024:

The Bishop of Worcester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking (1) to secure a ceasefire, and (2) to press for an investigation by the International Criminal Court of violations of international humanitarian law, in Gaza.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The UK wants to see an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible. We are calling for an immediate humanitarian pause to get aid in and hostages out, and as a vital first step towards building a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. But to achieve that:

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Bishop of Worcester asks about respect for international humanitarian law in wake of Israel-Gaza conflict

The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answer on 26th January 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of how the war in Gaza might affect respect for international humanitarian law in other conflicts.

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Bishop of Worcester asks about efforts to uphold international humanitarian law in Israel-Gaza conflict

The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answer on 25th January 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) international humanitarian law is upheld in Gaza, and (2) civilians are protected there.
  • what assessment they have made of whether international humanitarian law is being respected in the war in Gaza.
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Bishop of Worcester asks about government approach to peace process in Israel and Gaza

The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answer on 24th January 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking (1) to assess the lessons of the Oslo peace process, especially in relation to the inclusion of regional actors, and (2) to apply those lessons in their response to current calls from regional players for a ceasefire in Gaza.

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Church Commissioners Questions: Choral Music, Rough Sleeping, Multimedia Platforms, Church Buildings, Christians in Cuba, and the Anglican Hospital in Gaza

On 11th January 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following answers to MPs in the House of Commons:

Choral Music: Cathedrals

Michael Fabricant MP (Con, Lichfield) asked: Whether the Commissioners are taking steps to support choral music in cathedrals.

Andrew Selous MP (Con, South West Bedfordshire): The Church Commissioners provided £1 million to support music in cathedrals during the pandemic. That sum was match funded by the Cathedral Music Trust. The commissioners are extremely grateful to the trust for doing what it did to help ensure that worship in our cathedrals remains of the highest calibre.

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Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham raises issue of targeting of Anglican hospital and church in Gaza by Israeli forces

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on the targeting of the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital and the Holy Family Church in Gaza by Israeli forces on 19th December 2023, calling for recognition of Gaza’s Christian community and the prompt release of detained hospital staff:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: I am grateful to the Minister for his comments so far. I want to raise two specific incidents with His Majesty’s Government that are of particular concern to these Benches.

News arrived overnight of the actions of the Israel Defense Forces in destroying the entrance wall of the Anglican Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, closing that facility, detaining most of its staff and leaving a tank on the rubble. The second incident relates to comments made by the deputy mayor of Jerusalem on LBC radio this morning, where she was questioned about a sniper attack on two Christian women in the compound of the Holy Family Church. She said that there were no Christians or churches in Gaza and that they have been “driven out by Hamas”. There remains a small, yet highly visible, Christian community in Gaza, which is very notably engaged in the provision of Gaza’s healthcare facilities.

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Bishop of Durham asks about role of faith leaders in Israel & Gaza

On 12th December 2023, the Bishop of Durham asked a question on the involvement of faith leaders in diplomatic conversations on the situation in Israel & Gaza:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, this tragic situation is also caught up in the complexity of the religious faiths of the region. In what way are faith leaders involved in the diplomatic conversations to seek to bring peace?

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Bishop of Albans asks about efforts to collect evidence of violations of international law

On 6th December 2023, he Bishop of St Albans asked a question on the collection of evidence regarding alleged violations of international law, following a Commons Urgent Question on the humanitarian situation in Gaza:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC has called for the collection of evidence where there are alleged violations of international law. What are His Majesty’s Government doing to help with the collection of any such evidence?

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Gaza & Israel

On 27th November 2023, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Dr Matthew Offord MP (Con, Hendon): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Anglican diocese of Jerusalem is taking to help people impacted by the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

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King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of Chelmsford speaks on conflict in the middle east

On 15th November 2023, the Bishop of Chelmsford spoke in the Kings Speech debate on the topic of conflict in the middle east, particularly with regards to the current humanitarian situation in Gaza:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, whatever the Government’s foreign policy priorities for this Session of Parliament, we know that they can quickly be upended by unexpected global events. The world is being reshaped by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza. The terrorist actions of Hamas on 7 October must be condemned, as we have heard several times today, and Israel’s right to self-defence must be affirmed. We must also continue to affirm that this right needs to be exercised in adherence with the principles of international humanitarian law. The violation of international humanitarian law by both sides is shocking and will, I fear, have repercussions beyond the confines of this war, as will the killing of more than 100 UN aid workers, the highest number in the UN’s history.

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