News: Gaza faces starvation
Global religious voices are calling for immediate aid and respect for human life, after the release of a recent report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which cited a concerningly large proportion of Gazans are now starving.
Over 400 rabbis are urging the Israeli government to allow aid into Gaza, halt settler violence, and pursue peace. The letter cites “the sanctity of life” and core Torah values which are in conflict with Jewish values. The letter urges political dialogue …ensuring security for Israel, dignity and hope for Palestinians, and a viable peaceful future for all the region.
…“the severe limitation placed on humanitarian relief in Gaza” and “the policy of withholding of food, water, and medical supplies from a needy civilian population”
Rev. Prof. Michel Abs, secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches, expressed his feelings through a poem.
His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, – the Muslim Council of Elders (19 July) warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Some of the the religious voices calling for a change are:
Pope Leo XIV (Angelus Prayer on Sunday 27 July)
“Every human being has an intrinsic dignity bestowed by God Himself. I urge all parties in every conflict to recognise this dignity and to cease all actions that violate it.”
His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem (22 July in Jerusalem)
(Gaza is) “a land pierced by the wounds of war, where the innocent bleed beneath the weight of a merciless assault.”
ACT Alliance general secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria
“Turning humanitarian aid into a weapon of war is a grave violation of international law and human dignity,” he said. “People of faith cannot remain silent in the face of such suffering.”
Lutheran World Federation general secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt
“We cannot look away as children are starving and people are unable to safely collect water from aid points ….Our humanitarian colleagues are suffering alongside the rest of the population.”
A statement from more than 100 other organizations notes that the residents of Gaza are starving—and now so are the aid workers.
And from Caritas Internationalis – a call to action
“We want peace, … We must stop the seeds of hatred being sown in the hearts of young Palestinians and Israelis, and elsewhere in the region…. These will fuel wars in the Middle East for decades to come”.
Read the full article: As Gaza faces starvation, global religious voices call for immediate aid and respect for human life | oikoumene.org | 29 July 2025
YOU CAN TAKE ACTION NOW
Aussie children’s book creators petition Federal politicians over Gaza
Sign the Change.org petition: STOP THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA – Children’s book creators/supporters call for immediate action