JERUSALEM, JAN. 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Church leaders in the Holy Land are appealing to international leaders to end what they called the siege of Gaza, an "illegal collective punishment."
A statement released by religious leaders of Jerusalem and the Holy Land said that some 1.5 million people in Gaza are "imprisoned" without proper food and medicine, more than half of them also without electricity.
"This is illegal collective punishment," the statement said, "an immoral act in violation of the basic human and natural laws as well as international law. It cannot be tolerated anymore. The siege over Gaza should end now."
The leaders urge "the international community, [U.S.] President Bush and the leaders of Israel, to put an end to this suffering." They called upon Israel to ensure "sufficient, normal flow of medicine, food, fuel and goods to Gaza."
Both sides
The religious leaders called on both Israelis and Palestinians to work toward peace.
The statement said: "We urge the Palestinian leadership to unite in ending their differences for the sake of their people in Gaza. Put the differences aside and deal with this crisis for the good of all human beings demonstrating that you care for your brothers and sisters who have suffered enough already. We would say to all concerned parties: while ever you persist in firing rockets into Israel you encourage public opinion outside this land to feel there is a justification for this siege.
"We urge Israel to act responsibly and to immediately end this inhuman siege. To deny children and civilians their necessary basic commodities is not the way to security but rather throws the region into further and more dangerous deteriorations.
"This siege will not guarantee the end to rocket firing, but will only increase the bitterness and suffering and invite more revenge, while the innocents keep dying. True peace-building is the only way to bring the desired security."
The religious leaders concluded their statement with the promise of prayer: "We pray for the Israelis and Palestinians to respect human life and God's love for every human life, and to take all possible measures to end this suffering. Only bold steps towards just peace and ending the violence will protect the human life and dignity of both peoples."
