Primates call for cessation of hostilities in Gaza

Monday January 5th 2009

The Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Primates have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

The Most Rev Alan Harper, OBE, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Cardinal Seán Brady, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, recently visited the Holy Land as pilgrims together for peace.

In a joint statement they said: “It is, therefore, with distress and deepening concern for all innocent victims that we have followed the unfolding tragedy of Gaza. We call upon the authorities in both Israel and Gaza immediately to disengage and cease all hostilities to enable a permanent ceasefire to be negotiated. Only when violence has ceased will it be possible to begin to negotiate a peace that will last.”

The Primates continued: “We call upon all people of faith to pray for all caught up in the conflict. We also call upon the international community and particularly the United States and the European Union to bring maximum influence to bear to end all violence immediately and to create conditions that will lead to a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”