Archbishop of York Denounces Israeli Actions in Gaza Amidst Warnings of Mass Starvation
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has issued a powerful and scathing statement condemning Israel's actions in Gaza, labeling the ongoing violence, starvation, and dehumanization inflicted on the civilian population as "depraved and unconscionable." In a statement released today, Archbishop Cottrell declared, "In the name of God, I cry out against this barbaric assault on human life and dignity. It is a stain on the conscience of the international community, and a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law."
His remarks come as a collective of over 100 Christian and other aid agencies have signed a joint statement warning of mass starvation spreading across Gaza. The statement, issued on July 23, 2025, highlights the critical shortages of food, clean water, medical supplies, and fuel, with aid workers themselves joining food lines to feed their families. Organizations like Christian Aid, Caritas, CAFOD, Pax Christi, and Oxfam are among the signatories urging governments to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, lift all bureaucratic restrictions, and open all land crossings to ensure the full flow of life-saving aid. They explicitly reject military-controlled distribution models, calling for a principled, UN-led humanitarian response.
Archbishop Cottrell, while reiterating his condemnation of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and his call for the release of all hostages, asserted that Israel's current war in Gaza has become "a war of aggression – it is a grave sin and it must stop." He emphasized the urgent need for action "now to stop this ongoing assault on Gaza, end settlement-building and settler violence in the West Bank, and secure negotiation for a lasting and just peace." He also expressed pastoral solidarity with Christian communities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including those affected by recent attacks on places of worship and hospitals.
Druze Christian Family Killed in Syria Amidst Intensifying Violence
Adding to the grim humanitarian landscape of the Middle East, reports from Syria indicate the tragic killing of a Druze Christian family in the city of Suwayda last week, around July 16, 2025. Pastor Khalid Mezher, a convert to Christianity from the Druze community, was reportedly killed along with at least 11 members of his extended family, including six women, as they hid in their house.
According to reports from the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) and Christian aid groups like Open Doors and Barnabas Aid, the massacre occurred amidst clashes between government-backed Sunni Bedouin groups and Druze militias in the Suwayda Governorate. Sources suggest the armed group that entered the house and killed the family did so because they were perceived as Druze, despite Pastor Mezher, his wife, and daughter being Christians. The perpetrators reportedly fired directly on everyone inside the house, even killing the family's dog, an act described as reflecting "extreme brutality."
This incident is part of a wider escalation of sectarian violence in Syria's southern Sweida province that has claimed hundreds of lives since July 13, 2025. The US State Department has confirmed the death of at least one American citizen, a Druze man, in the unrest. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has also noted credible reports of executions, arbitrary killings, kidnappings, and lootings by both Syrian government forces and local Druze and Bedouin fighters, constituting potential war crimes. The violence underscores the precarious situation of religious minorities caught in the crossfire of ongoing conflicts in the region.
The combined news highlights the deepening humanitarian crises and the increasing vulnerability of civilian populations, particularly religious minorities, across the Middle East.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
