Church of England bishops respond to UK prime minister’s call for Palestinian statehood
[Church of England] The archbishop of York, together with the bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Chelmsford and Norwich, have responded to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement on the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state.
As we continue to pray for everyone caught up in the devastating violence and suffering in Palestine and Israel, we welcome His Majesty’s government’s statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, pledging to work with international partners on a long-term settlement, and the additional steps being taken to help get aid into Gaza.
We call upon the Israeli government to commit to an immediate ceasefire and to desist from actions that are leading to starvation in Gaza as well as from policies leading to the progressive annexation of the West Bank.
We condemn unequivocally the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023. The hostages should be immediately and safely released without conditions attached to their freedom.
We continue to call for an immediate end to this war and for negotiations leading to lasting justice, security and peace.
But the fact remains: a deliberate famine is being inflicted on the people of Gaza.
Air drops of aid are dangerous and entirely inadequate substitutes for what is needed: the unimpeded delivery of aid through the U.N. and other established humanitarian organisations.
His Majesty’s government has a legal and moral obligation to use every possible political, economic and diplomatic means at its disposable to end this abomination. This approach is clearly still not being taken – and so the urgent question remains: what more will it take?
Meanwhile the prospect of the United Kingdom recognizing Palestinian statehood is welcome, overdue and cannot come soon enough. As settlement expansion continues in the West Bank, the U.K. must recognise Palestine while there is still land on which a state could be recognised.
The U.K. has a particular historical and moral duty to recognise the state of Palestine, and it is therefore disappointing that this recognition has been made conditional. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is not a bargaining chip, and there can be no conditions placed on it.
We urge the government to move ahead with recognition of Palestine regardless of the facts on the ground.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we continue in prayer each day for our Palestinian Anglican sisters and brothers and for all the Christian communities, as well as for all Palestinians, Israelis and peoples of the region.
May God bring an end to these terrible injustices and guide our feet into the way of peace.
- Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell
- Southwark Bishop Christopher Chessun, House of Lords Lead Bishop for the Middle East
- Gloucester Bishop Rachel Treweek
- Chelmsford Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani
- Norwich Bishop Graham Usher
