Day 14: War in the Middle East
The Rafah crossing is expected to open today bringing much needed relief to Gaza, where people are without food, water or energy and where hospitals are collapsing under the strain. An estimated 4,000 Palestinians have been killed and 15,000 injured. Israel’s defence chief says troops will soon see Gaza “from inside”. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Israel where he pledged support and later he went to Saudi Arabia where he appealed for stability in the region and found agreement on providing aid for Gaza. Foreign nationals are being urged to leave Lebanon as tension with Hezbollah mounts.
24 British health groups condemn targeting of healthcare system in Gaza
Twenty-four British health professional groups have written to the Prime Minister expressing deep concern at the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East. The letter implores the government to use its influence to halt the cycle of violence. It says the actions in Gaza contravene international humanitarian law and it expresses alarm at the overwhelming strain on the healthcare system and depletion of essential supplies. The organisations condemn assaults on healthcare facilities and demand that staff receive protection. The letter was posted by the British Islamic Medical Association (logos pictured).
Greek Orthodox church hit in Gaza
The 12th century Greek Orthodox church of Saint Porphyrius, in Gaza City, has been hit in an explosion which has reportedly killed eight people and injured others sheltering inside. Hamas said there was huge damage and many casualties. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed strong condemnation of the attack, and said that targeting churches where innocent people are sheltering is a war crime.
Fourteen British Muslims scholars and Imams denounce violence in Middle East
The Times reports that 14 Muslim scholars and Imams have signed a joint statement, denouncing Hamas for the killing and abduction of innocent people, and Israel for its use of “excessive force” in response. The statement was organised by Imam Qari Asim, chair of MINAB, The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board and the senior imam at the Makkah Mosque in Leeds. It says they “unequivocally condemn the killing of civilians in Israel and Gaza”, adding: “We denounce Hamas’s killing and abduction of innocent people on October 7, 2023, as well as the Israeli military’s subsequent use of excessive force. We urge the government of Israel to act with restraint and within the boundaries of international law. The complete siege on Gaza has resulted in immense suffering and recent actions are intensifying a humanitarian crisis of untold proportions upon Palestinians, who are not responsible for the actions of Hamas.”
Other news
“LGB Christians” launches amid concern at trans ideology
A new network “LGB Christians” has been launched to support “gender-critical lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians who are concerned about the impact that transgender ideology” is having on them. It says that “a concerning number of people (youth in particular) are being persuaded they are transgender, or misdiagnosed as having gender dysphoria, when they are simply gay or lesbian, or bisexual… Sex-change treatments involving hormones, medication and surgery have taken the place of the more familiar psychological conversion therapy”. It says this new “gender-affirming care” has institutional support and progressive political endorsement. “As Christians we accept and reaffirm the existence of biological reality as part of God’s creation; we are born men or women, not ‘assigned’. Same-sex attracted Christians are caught in the middle between the competing views of the conservative religious establishment that views us as sinners, and the new progressive one that views us as bigots for not wishing to embrace an ideological view of gender which erases us.” LGB Christians will be officially launched at the LGB Alliance conference on Friday 27 October 2023 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Central London.
Christ Church Oxford votes to allow non-clergy to lead university college
The Governing Body of Christ Church, Oxford, has approved a proposal to split the job of the Dean into two roles. A statement released by the college yesterday, explains that currently the Dean has charge of a single Foundation looking after the cathedral and the college. In future the Dean will only lead the Cathedral, working beside a separate head of the Foundation. This follows a recommendation from the review of Christ Church’s governance by Dominic Grieve KC, who was asked to propose recommendations after a bitter dispute with the former Dean, Martin Percy. It is regarded as highly significant, removing the centuries old tradition, instituted by Henry VIII in 1546, that the head of the Foundation is an ordained priest.
Humanists UK seek support for people leaving high control religious groups
The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group has held a meeting to appeal for government support for programmes such as Humanist UK’s “Faith to Faithless” campaign, which helps people who leave “high control” religious groups. Chaired by Baroness Joan Bakewell, two speakers gave their account of leaving a religious group – one had left the Jehovah’s Witnesses and experienced isolation from family and friends; and another had walked away from Islam and was ostracised by his family. The recently published report by the former government religion adviser, Colin Bloom, advised that there should be support for campaigns to help the apostates, people who leave the groups.
Nicaragua releases 12 priests from jail and sends them to Rome
The Associated Press reports that Nicaragua has released 12 Roman Catholic priests jailed on a variety of charges and sent them to Rome following an agreement reached with the Vatican. They did not include Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years after refusing to get on a flight to the United States in exile. President Ortega has targeted the Catholic church after believing it aided popular protests against his regime.
Italian parliament votes to build holocaust museum in Rome
The Italian parliament has decided to back a project to build a Holocaust Museum in Rome, an idea first floated 20 years ago. It will cost 10 million euros over three years and €50,000 in annual operational costs. The decision was accelerated after the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago, with one Deputy from the right-wing League party, saying the holocaust was an ancient problem, reappearing like a nightmare.
