The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem have issued a joint Advent appeal for Anglicans to pray for Palestinian Christians and support the work of the Diocese of Jerusalem.

In a pastoral letter following their pilgrimage in Palestine and Israel last week, Most Rev Justin Welby and Most Rev Hosam Naoum said that over five days they listened to the voices of those living in the shadow of the ongoing war in the region. They last met in Jerusalem just two weeks after the October 7th attacks in 2023 and that since then 'the world has witnessed unimaginable suffering, death, destruction and displacement that has made Gaza simply uninhabitable.  We give thanks that even in the midst of such horrors the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza City continues to serve those in need. We stand united in our call for an immediate end to the war, the release of all hostages and prisoners and an end to forced displacement.'

The Archbishops travelled to Ramallah and Bethlehem where they say they were 'profoundly shocked and shaken to hear from Palestinian Christians - lay and ordained, young and old, male and female - about their daily struggles to survive the ongoing occupation. Such is the despair we encountered that many, especially young adults, question their own future here.

'We fear for the long-term survival of the indigenous Christian presence in the Holy Land that stretches back to the time when our Lord walked this land. This existential challenge demands our focused attention and collective response.'

The pilgrimage also took in a visit to the Tent of Nations outside Bethlehem City where a family is fighting a legal battle with the Israeli Supreme Court over ownership of their farm.

The letter also makes reference to Layan Nasir the Palestinian Christian from St Peter’s Anglican Church, Birzeit. Layan has been detained since April without legal proceedings, by order of a regional military court, based on classified evidence that leaves her facing unknown allegations.

The Archbishops end their letter by saying :

'Throughout our journey together, we heard repeatedly that many indigenous Christians of the Holy Land feel abandoned by the global Church’s response to the war and the challenges they face. This must change. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be united in saying there can be no Gospel justification for denying people their God-given human dignity and the rights that flow from this.

'As we approach Advent, when we remember and celebrate the birth of the Messiah and anticipate his second coming, we invite Christians across the Anglican Communion to recall the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18: 1-8). Please join together in prayer against these injustices, appealing both to God to intervene and enact justice, and to soften the hearts of the oppressor. We must always pray and never lose heart. Through our prayerful persistence, justice will prevail.'