Kairos Palestine Easter Appeal
This year, Palestinian Christians in their Easter appeal ask the existential question, will the ‘living stones’, the indigenous Christian community of Palestine, endure or fade into history. The appeal says – ‘The threats facing us and all Palestinians—land confiscation, forced displacement, physical assaults and violent arrests, targeted killings, movement restrictions, economic strangulation, and political marginalization—have reached a critical point.’
The appeal points to some of the threats against Christian Palestinians – expansion of (Israeli) settlements in Bethlehem, attacks on Armenian Christian properties in Jerusalem, the confiscation of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate land. Meanwhile, in America over 3000 Christian Zionists have called on President Trump to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.
Palm Sunday bombing of Al Ahli Hospital
While it was still dark in Gaza on Palm Sunday morning an officer of the Israeli army telephoned the Anglican Al Ahli hospital in Gaza city and advised staff that they had 20 minutes to clear the hospital. True to their threat, the IDF then destroyed the ICU and surgical units of the hospital with two missiles. This is another crime to be added to the growing list of Israeli war crimes. A statement from the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem condemns this atrocity in the strongest terms. They point out that this is the fifth time that the hospital has been bombed. A report in the Irish Times (15/04/25) points out that the Anglican Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough has a relationship with the Diocese of Jerusalem. Archbishop Michael Jackson is quoted expressing solidarity with the hospital staff, “I share their outrage, having experienced their selfless work and worshipped with them in their hospital chapel, at the destruction and desecration of the hospital – a place of care and healing for all in need.” Since October 2023, Israel has targeted 36 hospitals in Gaza and killed over 1,000 healthcare workers.
A letter from Christian Aid Ireland
On the 5th April, Rosamond Bennett, the CEO of Christian Aid Ireland wrote to the editor of the Irish Times expressing dismay at the silence of western governments and churches at the ongoing campaign of starvation, bombing and killing of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel. The silence and complicity of governments is shameful and gives impunity for Israel to carry on with its barbaric military campaigns.
Ally to atrocity – a joint message to Starmer and Lammy
The British government is one of those complicit in the Gaza genocide through silence. Kier Starmer has said that Israel is ‘in danger’ of breaking international humanitarian law. What more does Israel have to do to convince him? A video message, entitled Ally to atrocity, by Medical Aid for Palestine, Christian Aid and Save the Children challenges Starmer and UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, to wake up to their obligations to uphold international law. The video accuses Starmer and Lammy of tacitly supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestine by their failure to condemn the human rights abuses of the Israeli government.
A weak response from Ireland
Our own government in Dublin has been very quiet about events in the Holy Land of late. The blockade of all aid supplies (food, water, medicines, tents) into Gaza since the 2 nd March and the renewed attacks on civilians demand a strong reaction. The murder of 15 paramedics of the Red Crescent Society on the 23 rd March by Israeli soldiers and the crude attempt by the IDF to hide their crime deserves loud condemnation.
There are fears that our government is planning to water down the Occupied Territories Bill to ban trade with the illegal settlements in occupied Palestine, to make it ineffectual. There must be a ban on trade in goods and services such as IT.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed his intention that Ireland will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. This definition with its examples of antisemitism has been used internationally to shut down criticism of Israeli actions towards Palestinians. We should be quite clear that Zionism is a racist, settler colonial ideology and it is not being antisemitic to speak out this truth.
Belfast Demonstration Saturday 19th April City Hall at 12 noon
A demonstration is being organised by Jews for Palestine, IPSC, Kairos Ireland and Christians 4 Palestine on Saturday. This Passover/Easter vigil draws attention to the starvation policies of the Israeli government and makes the demand – Let Gaza Live
Title Deeds to the Holy Land?
On the 26th March, biblical scholar Nicholas Taylor gave an online presentation on some of the texts that have been (mis)used to justify the annexation of Palestinian land by Israel. A link is now available to view a recording of the talk. There is an accompanying reading list with the video for those who want to read further on the topics discussed in the talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhyHyZg1wqc
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