14 November 2008
Methodist Church calls for UN emergency food aid access into Gaza
The Methodist Church in Britain has urged for Gaza border
crossings to be kept open so that emergency food aid can reach
people in need.
The current crisis developed after Israeli troops entered Gaza to
destroy a tunnel, killing a Hamas gunman. Since then, five more
Palestinians have been killed by an Israeli airstrike and
Palestinian militia have fired rockets into Israel.
Steve Hucklesby, Methodist Church Policy Adviser, said: "In recent
years Gaza's isolation has devastated the economy. The lifeline of
food and fuel has become crucial and half of the population of Gaza
currently depends on UN food supplies.
"Palestinians have a right under international law to receive
essential humanitarian aid. We appeal to the UK and EU to exert
pressure on Israel to ensure that the border crossings are kept
open. We must hope for progress on dialogue in the coming months.
The additional tension created by military incursions into Gaza
makes this more difficult."
This year Methodist Conference adopted a motion calling on
Methodists to write to their MPs and MEPs to demand urgent action
to alleviate the humanitarian crisis facing the people of Gaza and
to pray for peace and justice for all God's people in the Holy
Land.