In Depth:  Gaza

Luke Randall

The war between Israel and Hamas must end and the oft-discussed “two-state solution” is “achievable” in the long term if built upon the rule of law, according to a Palestinian Christian journalist.

This month marks two years since the latest conflict between the two factions began and many have little hope that a resolution can be found. However, in an exclusive interview with en, award-winning Palestinian Christian journalist and writer Daoud Kuttab revealed that he believes there are ways to ensure Israelis and Palestinians can live alongside each other peacefully in the future.

Luke Randall

The contribution of Gaza’s shrinking Christian community to the relief effort in Gaza is acting as a unique witness to its locals, according to a mission worker.

In an exclusive interview with en, Hanna Massad, head of Christian Mission to Gaza (CMG), spoke of how Gaza’s believers are working to make a difference as the war between Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) rages on.

Luke Randall

As conflict between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza, there are an estimated 600 Christians remaining in the territory attempting to salvage what is left of their homes and to encourage one another.

In a recent interview with Open Doors, a Christian man, who preferred to remain anonymous, described what daily life is like for believers who remain in the region, with most living in tents under the shelter of church buildings and struggling to acquire basic necessities.

Nicola Laver

A planned “land-grab” of historical church assets in East Jerusalem by Israeli authorities as repayment of allegedly unpaid taxes has been described as an attack on Christianity itself.

While the Armenian Patriarch is understood to be the only Christian community targeted so far, there are fears that seizure of property could expand to other Christian churches and communities including evangelicals if it goes ahead. The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem is challenging the planned foreclosure in court.

Luke Randall

Christians returning to their homes in Gaza have insisted they will not leave their homeland, while believers in Lebanon face an uncertain future.

There are ongoing tensions and uncertainties about the fragile pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas. However, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in place since late November, seemed to be holding.

Luke Randall

UK Christians have prayed continuously for 700 hours about the crisis in the Middle East, as part of a prayer session organised by charities Tearfund and 24-7 Prayer, as conflicts continue in the region.

Tearfund asked people to pray for the situation as conflicts continue in Gaza and Lebanon, and tensions increase between Israel and Iran.

Iain Taylor

Thirty out of the estimated 1,000 Christians still left in Gaza have been killed, according to local church sources.

And as Gaza’s Christian population continues to shrink, down from about 3,500 before the war began, commentators fear that one of the oldest Christian communities in the world may be literally dying out.

Iain Taylor

‘Jesus is in the rubble’ according to a Middle Eastern pastor, as Gaza continues to face intense Israeli military action and fears of war spreading accelerate.

Rhiannon de Laune (see photo), from Christian charity Embrace the Middle East, was quoting a Bethlehem pastor, Munther Isaac.

Iain Taylor

The appalling death and destruction inflicted by both sides during the current Israel/Hamas conflict in the Middle East has horrified the world. But even amidst the carnage and destruction so visible on our TV screens day after day, churches and Christian organisations are bringing help and hope to the region, even though they too have also become intended or accidental targets of the violence.

Christian TV station SAT-7, which broadcasts across the Middle East, reports that shelling caused severe damage to a new cancer ward at the Anglican Church-funded Al Ahli hospital in Gaza. An explosion in its courtyard, thought to have been caused by a misfired Gazan missile, killed almost 500 people sheltering there. The hospital continues to operate as best it can, however, and has been accepting patients from other besieged hospitals that have had to stop working.