The Gaza and Lebanon Justice Appeal

The United Reformed Church is relaunching its Gaza appeal in support of emergency work being carried out. We are expanding the appeal to include Lebanon. The good news is that we are taking this action in partnership with the Methodist Church in Britain.

The Gaza/Lebanon Justice Appeal

We anticipate that this appeal will benefit our partners working in the regions. We hope that by working together we will be able to have a greater impact on the work required to bring about relief and justice.

Philip Brooks, Deputy General Secretary (Mission) for the United Reformed Church (URC) says, “Given the desperate humanitarian crisis experienced by the people of Gaza and Lebanon, it is good for the URC and its global justice programme, ‘Commitment for Life’, to join with our Methodist ecumenical partners and All We Can in support of this vital appeal. In the face of overwhelming force and deep injustice, we hope to bring ecumenical solidarity and practical support to help alleviate the plight of so many people who are enduring conflict in this region.”

Jude Levermore, Head of Mission for the Methodist Church says: “We are called to be co-workers for God’s mission of reconciliation and justice, to act and serve among fragile humanity. We believe the crucified Christ is embracing the pain of war affecting people from all parties and backgrounds and we feel compelled therefore to act together with care and compassion. We wait for sanity to prevail but in the meantime we stand with our partners in solidarity and give what we can.”

The Methodist Liaison Office (MLO) based in Jerusalem works alongside several partners in Gaza, many of whom have had to adapt the support they offer in light of the Israeli government’s military campaign. The United Reformed Church is a long standing partner of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon which is currently working in Lebanon after the airstrikes by the IDF. The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees which is part of the Near East Council of Churches (NECC) and the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre which had just opened a clinic in Gaza when the violence started, are working in the most difficult of circumstances.

hungry child Gaza image by honeysalah - pixabay

Find out more details on our partners here

Israel-Palestine

The Methodist Church

News Section

The Methodist Church

FAQS

The Methodist Church

Partner Info

The Methodist Church

Dave’s Blog

The Methodist Church

Further details on our partners

The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre continues to provide rehabilitation services to children with disabilities in the Gaza Strip as part of its initiative “Heart to Heart, from Jerusalem to Gaza.” As part of this initiative, a rehabilitation unit for the Basma Centre has been set up at Al-Ahli Hospital where 4 employees have been hired. Although the disrupted work, they quickly resumed operations, keeping two important things in mind: preserving the safety of our staff and finding mechanisms that allow us to continue providing our services despite the challenges. Despite the conflict, we have maintained continuous communication with our staff in the Gaza Strip while also launching a mobile treatment service for children with disabilities with an additional two of our therapists working in shelters to provide free psychosocial support and rehabilitation services. The Gaza staff has focused their basic services on meeting urgent needs, and working with acute injuries such as amputations and fractures. Despite the current challenges and circumstances, our comprehensive rehabilitation services alongside the Mother and Family Empowerment Program continue to operate at full capacity, with 210 children enrolled in the comprehensive rehabilitation program. We are committed to standing by our children and their families in all circumstances, to provide the best possible support and care, tackling the future with great optimism for smoother days ahead where every child can live in peace.

“My motivation to continue working under these difficult circumstances is driven by love: Love for the work, love for the city and love in standing by the people and sharing their pain. Despite the challenges, my presence on the ground, representing the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, is a ray of hope for the children and their families.”

Al Zahra’a, Occupational Therapist at The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre – Gaza

“Sometimes we have had to reduce working hours to ensure the safety of our staff. Despite these difficult conditions, our presence on the field is crucial for the families, especially for the mothers who urgently need continuous medical care for themselves and their children. Being able to provide our services on the field, despite the challenges and difficulties fills me with pride both personally and professionally.”

Dr Saeed, General Doctor at The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre – Gaza

The DSPR-NECC says the situation in Gaza is a disaster beyond belief and the impact on people and staff there is catastrophic. They are working with some of the most vulnerable civilians and in central and south Gaza their clinic is one of only four centres that continues to operate: they are able to see around 500 people a day. Their main building in Gaza suffered severe damage due to the ongoing war which has had a devastating impact on the local community and our ability to continue our vital humanitarian work. Many rooms, including critical medicine storage facilities have been directly impacted by the conflict. This has had a severe impact on their capacity to provide essential medical support to those in desperate need.

“In these trying times, we humbly request your support, prayers, and solidarity. The people of Gaza are enduring unimaginable hardships, and your assistance can make a profound difference in their lives. In the meantime we are in close coordination with the ACT Secretariat and local forum, we are actively assessing the situation and formulating plans to launch an appeal aimed at delivering immediate support to the vulnerable and affected communities. Your support in these efforts is not only greatly appreciated but also absolutely essential. Our goal is to ensure a swift and effective response once the war comes to an end. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this difficult situation. Together, we can make a difference and provide relief and hope amidst of hopeless situation. With heartfelt gratitude and solidarity”

Nader Abu Amsha Dr. Audeh Quawas DSPR

The National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon

The NESSL has a diaconal wing that deals with emergencies and justice, called the Compassion Protestant Society (CPS). CPS aims to deliver critical, life-saving support for those who have been displaced by the ongoing conflict. Their immediate focus is on ensuring safe and dignified shelter, essential, life-sustaining assistance, along with education and psycho-social support for affected children. Amir Bitar, executive director of CPS has expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of the Methodist Church in the UK and the URC. ‘I’m very encouraged by the partnership with the UK Methodists and the URC with the broader reach of the Gaza and Lebanon Justice Appeal,’ he said.