It is with huge sadness we watch the situation in Israel and Palestine and the suffering of citizens throughout the region.
As Jews, Christians, and Muslims with shared Abrahamic heritage and those from different or no particular faith, we are called to uphold the highest of morals, unite in humanity and pray that reconciliation, peace, and justice prevail for everyone.
Our condolences and prayers are with the victims and those who have faced death, injury, and suffered in any other way.
We request that all parties seek to end the conflict based on mutual respect, sanctity of life, and interdependence on each other.
We should appreciate the strength that comes from being united in concern and respect for one another rather than divided by prejudice and hate.
It is commendable how in a recently held Annual Peace Walk event, Luton’s faith communities affirmed good relationships and solidarity with one another in our town.
Let us all stay united in our longing for peace in the region and in prayer for all those who are suffering as a result of the conflict.
We long for a peaceful solution that does justice to all involved.
GRASSROOTS & LUTON COUNCIL OF FAITHS Statement released on 9th Oct’23
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A few other statements;
https://lutonchurchestogether.org.uk/statement-from-churches-together-in-luton-executive/
https://lutonchurchestogether.org.uk/events/pope-francis-invites-everyone-to-a-day-of-prayer-fasting-and-penance-for-peace-on-friday-27-october/ ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://lutonmosques.org/call-for-peace ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://bit.ly/openletterlutonmps
https://bit.ly/SignGazaLetter ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-http://stmaryscpr.squarespace.com/blog/2023/10/12/a-call-for-justice-and-peace-in-the-holy-land?fbclid=IwAR2vAlpI3EFhxo9uZ3jN0_tnsz9lgRQ01RSh_cvDCFTnfwR3w5YaZy7G16U————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://bod.org.uk/bod-news/the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel/
Board of Deputies Letter to Schools————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-urgently-appeals-for-immediate-ceasefire-in-israel-and-palestine————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.voanews.com/a/pope-francis-calls-for-end-to-israel-palestinian-violence/7316162.html# ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://ctbi.org.uk/churches-and-christian-organisations-respond-to-violence-in-jerusalem/ ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/israel-gaza-conflict-uk-faith-leaders-condemn-antisemitism-and-call
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/archbishop-canterbury-appeals-end-bloodshed-after-gaza-hospital-blast
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://muslimnews.co.uk/news/palestine/british-muslim-faith-leaders-appeal-for-diplomatic-political-avenues-to-peace-on-gaza-crisis/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/statement-on-israel-palestine
https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/human-rights-monitors-safely-home-from-palestine ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) has produced three ways we can respond; prayer, donating, and sending a message to our Foreign Secretary. Find out more here
https://cafod.org.uk/news/emergencies-news/israeli-palestinian-crisis-how-you-can-help
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.change.org/p/an-open-letter-from-palestinian-christians-to-western-church-leaders-and-theologians ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://urc.org.uk/prayers-in-a-time-of-conflict/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/01/ceasefire-now-australian-jewish-group-breaks-ranks-with-vigils-for-peace
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/middle-east-crisis-appeal/call-for-just-peace-now ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/world/christian-leaders-add-their-voices-to-the-call-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza
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https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/enough-is-enough-church-leaders-unite-in-call-to-uk-prime-minister-to-help-stop-fighting-in-gaza ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://urc.org.uk/church-leaders-call-for-an-end-to-fighting-in-gaza/
https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/48635?
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.leaders.and.aid.agencies.call.for.end.to.fighting.in.gaza/141119.htm ————————————————————————————————————————————————————-https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/calling-for-peace-is-not-anti-israel-says-christian-aid-as-69-christian-leaders-write-to-sunak
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/07/young-britons-massacre-gaza-luton-israel
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2023/12/5/nativity-scene-places-baby-jesus-in-rubble
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2023/12/07/baby-jesus-lies-amid-rubble-in-bethlehem-church-christmas-nativity-scene————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/news/campaigns/middle-east-crisis-times-newspaper-action
https://masorti.org.uk/a-statement-on-rafah-by-senior-rabbi-jonathan-wittenberg/
Prince William: 'Too many killed' in Israel-Gaza war https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68343334
Statement from the House of Bishops on the war in Gaza | The Church of England
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/27/justin-welby-must-listen-to-palestinian-christians
https://www.oikoumene.org/news/as-the-world-order-breaks-down-jerusalem-is-to-start-again
https://www.oikoumene.org/news/as-the-world-order-breaks-down-jerusalem-is-to-start-again