An open letter written by Christians in Palestine 

Israel’s ambassador should step down right away, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has denounced Hamas’s assaults on Gaza. Yocheved Lifschitz, a Palestinian hostage, was set free but later disclosed her suffering.

700 people have allegedly died in the last 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials. Christians in Palestine are appalled by the support that western Christians have given to Israel and they urge those who do so to turn from their blind support. Kairos Palestine is one of twelve Christian organisations that have signed the letter.

Since the establishment of the Israeli State, Anglicans in Palestine have experienced constant attacks on their identity as Palestinians and Anglicans, leading them to believe that the Archbishop of Canterbury is unaware of the threat to their survival. Instead of attempting to strike a balance between the oppressed and the oppressor, they expect the church to denounce the denial of their rights and for the Archbishop to publicly endorse their existence. They characterise the circumstances in Palestine as a major threat to the existence of Christians and as a genocide against the Palestinian people.

In spite of the conflict, Scotland’s first minister and religious leaders have vowed to cooperate, denounce hate crimes, and maintain good relations. The declaration highlights Scotland’s strong interfaith heritage and restates a commitment to ongoing communication. In Britain, synagogue attendance doubled following the Hamas attacks, with many people attending services to promote goodwill and community cohesion.