Church bells rang out across Norway on Thursday 7 August in a rare and powerful Christian protest calling for peace in Gaza.

More than 300 churches joined the action, initiated by the Church of Norway, as an act of solidarity with civilians suffering under what church leaders have described as a humanitarian catastrophe.

The bells rang for seven minutes at 3pm, following a call by Presiding Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, who said: "We all feel a calling and a need to do something."

The action came as outrage grew in Norway over its sovereign wealth fund’s investments in Israeli companies tied to the ongoing war.

The Church of Norway has already called for "all legitimate political and economic means" to pressure Israel to stop what it has described as ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Moderator Harald Hegstad said the images coming out of Gaza are unlike anything the world has seen in a long time: "This demands something from us both as fellow human beings and as a church."

Hegstad added that opening church doors for candle lighting and intercessory prayer was "a way to respond in a dark situation".

Churches across Finland, Iceland and Sweden also joined the initiative. Bishop Guðrún Karls Helgudóttir of Iceland said: "The Christian Church cannot remain silent."

Some southern Norwegian churches declined to participate, and some Jewish communities expressed disappointment that Israeli victims were not also named. But Tveit stressed: "We pray for all who suffer. But we must speak clearly, this must stop."

In Sweden, Church of Sweden Archbishop Martin Modéus said: "Church bells will be rung during Sunday services to pray for Gaza, for peace in Israel and Palestine, and for all those affected by the horrific war."