Gaza Palestine Appeal

The appeal will fund food, shelter and medical services as soon as possible. The three Primary Health Clinics, Vocational Training Centres and other offices remain closed because it is not safe to run them. Tragically, staff and the people they work with have lost homes and loved ones. Many are displaced.

The need for a ceasefire is overwhelming – CWS supports the ACT Alliance the World Council of Churches, and the position of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Please pray for the people of Gaza, Israel and Palestine, and for peace. There are many brave people struggling to provide food, water and medical care in impossible conditions.

We have had news from our partner, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees on their work in Gaza and the West Bank where they work closely with the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches. Here is an extract from its letter last week:

“We are still able to communicate with some of the staff and volunteers, especially those in the Churches, we try to reach them at least once a day, but not always successful. Every time we hear harder news, most of the staff are displaced, the majority of them and their families have reached southern Gaza.... Cash withdrawal from banks is no longer possible, this makes it difficult to get water, food and other supplies which have also disappeared from the small shops and the storages of the wholesalers. In the churches they are managing the remaining food and water, it’s becoming harder and harder to feed more than 800 in the churches every day. Several families from the neighbourhood of our main building, who lost their homes, have moved to our building and are using it as a shelter.

“Another development is taking place now. In addition to around 10 persons evicted last 10 days, three other Christian families, around 20 members, some of them have foreign passports and others have valid visas to other countries, decided to move to the southern part of Gaza, in the hope that they might leave Gaza and get better chances to stay alive!!! Some others are waiting for the war to stop to leave Gaza for other countries, and many others still believe that no move from Gaza under any circumstances. Extremely difficult atmosphere and painful alternatives to choose from. This is what the churches and all of us warned the world about, that the Christian Presence in Palestine is at stake. Whoever has ears, let them hear (Matt. 11:15).

“DSPR is deeply grateful to our longstanding partners for their generous and prompt response to our Urgent Appeal following the Gaza war. We sincerely thank all of them who have pledged their support so far. Additionally, we appreciate the many others who have reached out, expressing their unwavering commitment and outlining plans to address this unprecedented and massive crisis. Your dedication is invaluable, and we are humbled by the solidarity demonstrated by all of you.”