Pilgrims for Gaza
The group grew to almost 50 pilgrims as they continued to the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, walking the final section in silence. They carried a banner with the handwritten names of more than 10,000 children killed in the war. More pilgrims joined for the final liturgy inside before sharing traditional Palestinian lentil soup prepared and served by local Palestinians.
The pilgrims stopped at the Al Noor Mosque where they were warmly greeted by Palestinian friends. Iman Gamal Fouda spoke about the community’s commitment to peace, their work to build understanding here in Aotearoa and their opposition to semiautomatic weapons, before recounting the events of 15 March, 2019.
Rev Robin Humphreys, minister of Beckenham Methodist Church, joined the walk with her family at the mosque. “As a family we decided to be a part of the walk weeks prior, as a statement of support as well as to continue to educate our children on the importance of living out our faith. It was an experience for us of actively answering Christ’s call to seek peace for all,” she said.
Organiser Cole Yeoman from Aotearoa Christians for Peace said it was particularly poignant when the group planning the event realised the pilgrimage was one week before the city marked the fifth anniversary of the attack on the two Christchurch mosques.
“It felt wrong to recognise the hate in Gaza without recognising the hate and violence in Aotearoa, and the need for decolonisation and an end to the occupation here,” he added.
A newly formed network of Christian activists, Common Grace Aotearoa and Aotearoa Christians for Peace organised pilgrimages in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, Poneke Wellington and Whanganui through Lent.
The pilgrimages are raising funds for the humanitarian work of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees Gaza, a partner of Christian World Service. Aotearoa Christians for Peace is leading a campaign advocating for visas for Palestinians in Aotearoa who have families here.
Up to 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced across Gaza. The distance paralleled the journey made by Palestinians from the north to the south of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage grew from a walk made by Australian-based Kiwi James Harris burdened by the war. Internationally, 173 pilgrimages have been planned during Lent in 19 countries.
Pilgrims support a common platform calling for an enduring and sustainable ceasefire, immediate humanitarian assistance, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinians held in Israel’s prisons, and the end of the occupation as steps toward a just peace.
Cole who visited the West Bank in 2019 said he was frustrated and saddened by the response of the global Christian community. Churches in the West talk about peace but were not taking action to stop the war and injustice imposed on Palestinians.
“We need to stand with Palestinians living under occupation, including the 47,000 Christians living with this inconvenient truth,” he added.