Individuals, groups, churches and councils of churches from Kenya to Sweden to the United States to Australia are carrying out hundreds of advocacy actions involving Christians concerned about the Gaza crisis, especially the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, and the need for a just and lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

Two weeks after the Israeli army launched the current attack on Gaza, an estimated 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis are dead, several thousands Palestinians have been wounded and many have been made homeless. The International Committee of the Red Cross says the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is failing to fulfill its obligation under international law to help wounded civilians in Gaza. A United Nations relief agency suspended aid operations in Gaza after some of their facilities were targeted and two of their staff killed by the IDF. Church-related facilities are not spared, as three DanChurchAid-supported mobile clinics bombed by the IDF show.

The WCC has received reports of church-related advocacy in some 20 countries, including statements, public demonstrations and letter campaigns addressed to government officials and parliament members. They are usually accompanied by vigils and prayer services and collection of funds to support humanitarian relief work.

A sample of those actions is listed below. Their goals include an immediate cease-fire that ends violence against civilians on both sides of the border, free access for humanitarian aid, lifting of the blockade on Gaza, and internationally sponsored negotiations under the framework of international law as the basis for peace.

International
Friends World Committee for Consultation - Europe and Middle East Section
Issued a statement on behalf of Quakers in Europe and the Middle East with web links and other information for representatives and Quaker Meetings. www.fwccemes.org

Lutheran World Federation
LWF "Reiterates Support for Holy Land Vision of Peace, Urges Ceasefire in Gaza"; General Secretary calls for prayers and advocacy, as North American Lutheran Bishops visit Middle East. www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html

Pax Christi International
Public letters to UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union calling for an immediate ceasefire and decisive action to uphold international humanitarian law as the basic framework for a solution to the conflict in Israel-Palestine. With the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, monitoring reports that indiscriminate and new weapons are being used by Israeli forces. www.paxchristi.net

World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Geneva
Issued a public call to prayer and action to end the violence in Gaza. www.warc.ch

World Alliance of YMCAs
Sent a letter to YMCAs in 124 countries asking them to send messages of support to the Gaza YMCA and to pray for peace in the Middle East; issued a statement condemning the violence.  www.ymca.int/index.php?id=113&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=394&tx_ttnews[backPid]=111&cHash=b093251a89

World Conference of Religions for Peace
Issued a statement calling for an immediate Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire. www.wcrp.org/news/statements/gaza-january-2008

World Council of Churches, Geneva
Public statement and a pastoral letter and prayer to member churches in the Middle East and elsewhere, advocacy by the WCC UN office with the Security Council and General Assembly, co-sponsoring a panel at the UN Church Center to counter disinformation, planning a visit to the Israeli mission in Geneva.  www.oikoumene.org/

YWCA
At the invitation of YWCA Palestine, YWCAs around the world held candlelight vigils in commemoration of lives lost in the crisis in Gaza and to call for peace in the Middle East. www.worldywca.info/index.php/ywca/world_ywca/ywca_news/world_ywca_news__1/ywca_of_palestine_calls_for_candle_vigil_in_remembrance_of_gaza_victims

Argentina
Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights
Issued a statement condemning the massive and indiscriminate aggression against civilian population in Gaza and asking for bilateral negotiations monitored by the UN www.medh.org.ar

Australia
Pax Christi Australia
Contacted the Australian government about the situation in the Gaza.

Uniting Church in Australia
Released a media statement expressing dismay about the attitude of the Australian Government towards the loss of life in Gaza, made contact with the Israeli Embassy in Canberra and sent letters to the Prime Minister from its National Christian Youth Convention.
assembly.uca.org.au/media-centre/50-mediareleases09/410-mrgaza.html

Victorian Council of Churches
Sent a letter to the Australian Prime Minister urging him and the Australian Government to work for the cessation of the current hostilities and to promote dialogue between all parties, Israeli and Palestinian. www.vcc.org.au/index.html

Austria
Pax Christi Austria
Sent an open letter to the Prime Minister and the European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs.

Belgium
Pax Christi Flanders
Published interviews, analysis and opinion editorials, e.g. www.standaard.be

Brazil
Pastoral Land Commission
Demonstrations of solidarity at the World Forum of Theology and the World Social Forum and may write letters to governments involved.

Canada
KAIROS
Kairos, the Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiative, published an Op-ed in the Toronto Globe and Mail about the Gaza situation, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, and issued an Urgent Action appeal to constituency on the Gaza situation. www.kairoscanada.org

United Church of Canada
Issued two public statements on the Gaza crisis including calls for a ceasefire and for religious leaders to give public witness to their shared commitment to peace with justice.
www.united-church.ca/communications/news/releases/090105

Denmark
Dan Church Aid
DCA Middle East Desk is following up on issues before the European Union Political and Security Committee in Brussels.
www.danchurchaid.org/sider_paa_hjemmesiden/where_we_work/middle_east/israel_palestine

European Union
APRODEV and aid agencies
A coalition of major humanitarian, human rights and development organizations — several of them church-related — called on the European Union to immediately suspend any further enhancement of its relations with Israel, known as an 'upgrade', until Israel agrees to a comprehensive ceasefire and provides unimpeded humanitarian access.

Aprodev, the Association of World Council of Churches-related Development Agencies in Europe, wrote to the top EU foreign policy officials and the foreign ministers of Sweden and France concerning EU mediation efforts and is in contact with the EU external relations council arguing for a suspension of the recently decided 'upgrade' of relations with Israel. www.aprodev.net

Finland
FinnChurchAid
TV interviews with staff and with an Ecumenical Accompanier from Finland serving in Jerusalem; Palestinian Lutheran Bishop Mounib Younan is to visit Finland and call attention to the crisis. www.finnchurchaid.fi

France
Pax Christi France
President wrote an appeal for peace co-signed by different NGOs

Germany
Evangelisches Missionswerk
Using website to inform the public about ecumenical partners' actions in the Middle East and globally. www.emw-d.de.

German Mennonite Peace Committee (DMFK)
Delegation is in the region meeting Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights groups, organized by Christian Peacemaker Teams. hebrondelegation.blogspot.com/

NEFF
An ecumenical organization in Nürnberg, NEFF took part in one demonstration against the war and is planning another.

Pax Christi Germany
Press releases from the group's Middle East Commission and Executive Committee; a 'NO to war in Gaza: YES to negotiations' demonstration in Lindau/Lake Constance organized in part by a former Ecumenical Accompanier.

Ireland
Anglican and Catholic churches
The Catholic and Anglican Primates of Ireland issued a joint statement calling upon authorities in both Israel and Gaza immediately to disengage and cease all hostilities to enable a permanent ceasefire to be negotiated. ireland.anglican.org

Japan
Japan YWCA and Jerusalem Partnership Committee, Diocese of Tokyo, NSKK
Joined 11 other civil society groups to send a letter to the Israeli Ambassador to Japan calling for a stop to all military attacks in and around Gaza.

Kenya
All Africa Conference of Churches
Issued a public 'Call for Cessation of Hostilities in the Gaza Strip' and condemns the war as a serious violation of human rights. www.aacc-ceta.org

Lebanon
Middle East Council of Churches
Issued a statement condemning attacks on civilians, urging decisive international action for peace and calling for unity among the Palestinian people.

National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon
Open letter to the church's members imploring God's mercy to stop the violence and calling "all sides to sit together and work out a lasting peace in all the Middle East'. www.nes-sl.org

Malaysia
Council of Churches of Malaysia
The CCM issued a statement calling for an internationally-guaranteed ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It set up a Gaza Humanitarian Fund for assisting in the urgent relief work.
www.ccmalaysia.org

Netherlands
ICCO
With civil society partners, a public debate, a vigil to remember the victims and an advertisement with prominent people condemning the attacks, calling on the Dutch government to do the same, and calling on the EU to suspend negotiations on Israel's status; plus, letters to parliament and cabinet, statements, press releases and opinion articles. www.icco.nl

IKV Pax Christi
Press statement and a civil society vigil, plus release of a report about the failed policy of isolating Hamas, with recommendations to the Dutch and European policy makers. www.ikvpaxchristi.nl

Taskgroup Turningpoint
Together with more than 20 civil organizations in the country, involved in demonstrations, vigils and a die-in. www.werkgroepkeerpunt.nl/english.php

Occupied Palestinian Territories
Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
Statement 'On the Current Devastating Situation in Gaza' condemns the violence and calls on the international community to intervene to stop the bloodshed and to bring a just and comprehensive solutions to the whole conflict. www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/other-ecumenical-bodies/12-08-gaza-situation.html

Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem is issuing appeals about the situation in Gaza especially relating to the humanitarian imperative and the church's Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza; the hospital is receiving 20-40 patients per day—many requiring hospitalization and a quarter of them children—and is operating under increasingly difficult conditions. www.j-diocese.org

YWCA of Palestine
Invited partner organizations to hold candlelight vigils and prayers to mourn the innocent killed in Gaza; issued statements calling on the Israeli government to immediately stop the war on Gaza and on countries neighboring Gaza to open their borders to allow humanitarian aid and medical supplies in; also called on the UN Security Council to adopt sanctions against Israel and on the International Criminal Court to process Israeli political leaders for war crimes. www.ywca-palestine.org

Sabeel
Sabeel's 'Reflection on Gaza' highlights the biblical 'narrow gate' of justice and the responsibilities of the various parties to the conflict, calling Palestinians to 'the way of non-violence'. www.sabeel.org

Sweden
Church of Sweden
In contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressing that the Gaza crisis be seen as part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, that the international community cannot content itself with a cease fire, and that this escalation of the conflict weakens moderates in the region and fuels extremism. Press releases, website and interviews with staff in the field outline these and humanitarian concerns; also part of the Aprodev letter to EU officials on halting the upgrade of EU-Israel relations.

EAPPI Sweden
Former Ecumenical Accompanier and local priest is interviewed about the Gaza crisis and has an article in the local newspaper Alingsåstidningen.

Switzerland
Churches and civil society organizations
Churches are among many Swiss civil society groups organizing a demonstration in the country's capital Bern on 10 January to protest the Swiss-Israeli military collaboration.

United Kingdom
Christian Aid
Asking the UK government to use its position on the United Nations Security Council to promote a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire by all parties and unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza, and to convince its EU partners to suspend all talks regarding the upgrade of Israel's relationship with the EU; also, in a coalition of European civil society organizations, requesting the EU to immediately suspend all talks regarding the upgrade of Israel's relationship with the EU.
www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/gaza-crisis/index.aspx

Church of Scotland
The church moderator wrote letters about the Gaza crisis to the Israeli Ambassador in London and the UK Foreign Secretary with copies to the Palestinian General Delegate to the UK, and to the national UK media. www.churchofscotland.org.uk

Pax Christi UK
Pax Christi UK issued prayers, suggested actions and a press release; its British Section called on UK churches to pray and act for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.
www.paxchristi.org.uk/Wall.HTML

EAPPI UK
Bradford-on-Avon – actions by former Ecumenical Accompaniers include letters to local press, and a peace vigil and petitioning with press and MPs invited.
 
USA
Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of International Peace and Justice
Encouraging people to urge President George Bush to send a high-level personal representative to the Holy Land immediately to help negotiate a ceasefire and ensure that the people of Gaza receive humanitarian assistance.
secure2.convio.net/crs/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=447&AddInterest=1101

Churches for Middle East Peace
CMEP members are being encouraged to write letters to the US Administration and Congress, contact their elected representatives directly and are provided with a variety of resources. www.cmep.org/Alerts/GazaBackgrounder.htm

Church World Service
Alerted its 'Speak Out' advocacy network to press Washington lawmakers for prompt U.S. diplomatic action to end the fighting in Gaza and a meaningful process toward peace with justice for Palestinians and Israelis. Wrote congressional leaders, state department officials and Israeli and Egyptian ambassadors concerning the Gazan refugees' right to protection. www.churchworldservice.org

Mennonite Central Committee
Sent letters to US, Canadian and Israeli/Palestinian government leaders and prepared action alerts, encouraging constituents in Canada and the US to write their government representatives. blogs.mcc.org/serviceworkers/cindydarylbyler/.

National Council of Churches of Christ
Seeking a meeting of church leaders with the Israeli ambassador and have sent a briefing paper to the Obama transition team. www.ncccusa.org

Pax Christi USA
Special appeal to members to take actions with US government. www.paxchristiusa.org

Pax Christi USA Rapid Response Network
Issued a collection of resources and actions, including a number of resources from the US Jewish community, on the Gaza crisis.
www.paxchristiusa.org/news_Events_more.asp?id=1497

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Stated Clerk issued a statement calling for all violence to stop; action alert urges members to contact the White House and Capitol Hill offices asking the U.S. must work with international partners to bring about an immediate cease-fire for the sake of both Israelis and Palestinians. The church's Israel Palestine Mission Network also condemned "the Israeli massacre of Palestinians now underway in Gaza". capwiz.com/pcusa/issues/alert/?alertid=12393316&type=CO
israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/

Reformed Church in America
Sent a letter to key leaders in the US administration and congress, contacted all congregations encouraging participation in a mail campaign to President-elect Obama (through Churches for Middle East Peace) and contributions for humanitarian aid. www.rca.org .

United Church of Christ
Issued a statement urging comprehensive peace in the Middle East and encouraging its members to write to the Secretary of State, Senators and Representatives calling for a cease fire and humanitarian relief in Gaza.
www.ucc.org/news/ucc-offers-its-prayers.html