CAFOD update from local organisations on the ground in Rafah
“There is nowhere left to host the people now being displaced from Rafah," says Elizabeth Funnell, CAFOD's Middle East representative.
CAFOD is working with Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular partners in occupied Palestinian territory and Israel to mitigate disruption to Palestinian families’ daily lives in the West Bank, help poor families in Gaza meet basic needs and support Arab Israeli women to secure fair employment.
The sudden increase in violence in Israel and occupied Palestine territory including Gaza is having a terrible impact on the people who live there. Families are losing their homes and loved ones, and will need urgent, practical help to recover.
A donation today will help local aid workers to provide emergency support as soon as it is safe to do so.
During his visit to the Holy Land, Pope Francis spoke of the “insecurity, the violation of rights, isolation and the flight of entire communities” and declared that “the time has come to put an end to this situation which has become increasingly unacceptable.” At the same time he strongly condemned violence and terrorism, and called for peaceful coexistence between Jews, Christians and Muslims, and an end to all forms of discrimination based on race or religion.
CAFOD is working with Christian, Jewish, Muslim and secular partners in occupied Palestinian territory and Israel to:
mitigate disruption to Palestinian families’ daily lives in the West Bank, especially through legal challenges to house demolition, land confiscation and violent attacks
help poor families in Gaza meet basic needs and improve their coping strategies
defend the human dignity of migrant workers and asylum seekers
support Arab Israeli women to secure fair employment and lift their families out of poverty
support young people to develop their talents, engage actively in society, and work confidently and constructively to promote freedom of expression and respectful dialogue
stand in solidarity with all Israelis and Palestinians working for peace with justice.
“There is nowhere left to host the people now being displaced from Rafah," says Elizabeth Funnell, CAFOD's Middle East representative.
With your support, we can continue to provide practical help to families in Gaza right now.
The UK government must exert every effort to ensure that this resolution is implemented. As Pope Francis reminds us, peace cannot be achieved through arms.
The International Court of Justice has issued an interim ruling today on South Africa's genocide case against Israel.
Over 1.9 million people have been displaced in Gaza since the conflict began, with many families having to move multiple times.
CAFOD has commented on reports of people sheltering within the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza being killed by sniper fire, and rocket fire shutting off the last generator powering a home for disabled people.
We welcome the news that a deal has been agreed for a four-day ceasefire allowing for the release of 50 hostages and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
We are devastated to share the tragic news that several staff members at one of our local partners operating within Gaza have been killed.
Calls from thousands of CAFOD supporters for the UK government to push for a ceasefire have been shared with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
CAFOD has joined Christian Aid and Church leaders to call for an immediate end to the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.