08163
March 3, 2008

WCC ‘absolutely condemns’ attacks on civilians in Gaza and Israel

by Juan Michel
World Council of Churches News and Information

GENEVA — Absolute condemnation for the “deadly attacks on civilians by the Israeli military on Gaza and by militants firing rockets from Gaza” was expressed today (March 3) by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the Rev. Samuel Kobia today.

Claiming that “the path to peace stands open but empty,” he called for an end of the “incessant violations of life and of human rights” and of the “blockade that has systematically deprived Gazans of almost all their rights.”

Attacks across the Gaza-Israeli border have killed more then 110 Palestinians and three Israelis since the middle of last week. One-third of the mostly civilian dead are reportedly children.

In his letter of March 3, Kobia called on the WCC member churches to join in education, advocacy and public witness activities during a week of International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, June 4-10, 2008.

A worldwide prayer for peace, with central events in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, is to be held on Sunday, June 8.

Kobia reiterated the alarm over the situation in Gaza expressed recently by the WCC’s  central committee, its main governing body, during its Feb. 13-20 meeting. The statement  reminds “all the authorities directly involved, the de facto Hamas authority and the Palestinian authority — to the extent that they exercise control — as well as the government of Israel” of their “primary obligations to protect the population of Gaza under international human rights and humanitarian law.”