US Church heads question Israel over denied entries into Gaza

The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Episcopal Church (TEC) have asked Israel to explain why it denied two of their bishops entry into Gaza while allowing others in a church delegation to cross the border.

In a letter to Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, ELCA presiding bishop the Rev Mark S Hanson and TEC presiding bishop the Most Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori asked why only their Palestinian bishops were kept from entering Gaza, despite already obtaining permits from Israeli officials to enter Gaza.

The letter was sent the day after the Rev Munib A Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), and the Rt Rev Suheil Dawani, Anglican bishop of Jerusalem, were denied entry to Gaza, according to a report from ELCJHL.

"The purpose of their visit was pastoral – to visit churches, humanitarian projects of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Al Ahli Hospital, an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem," the two US presiding bishops wrote in the February 5 letter.

"We are concerned that they were not allowed freedom of movement into Gaza to carry out their pastoral responsibilities," they added. “We believe that it is urgent that adequate humanitarian assistance reach the people of Gaza immediately, and we underscore Bishop Dawani's statement that 'most certainly pastoral care is an important factor in such services.'"

In addition to the Israeli ambassador to the United States, copies of the letter were sent to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Special envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell.

"We are protesting because this is against our right to move and against our freedom of religion," Younan said, according to ELCA’s news service. "Isn't it our right as heads of churches to have free movement and to enter Gaza for pastoral visits where ever we want?"

The bishops were travelling with the heads of churches of Jerusalem to visit Christians in Gaza. They had applied for permits to visit Gaza more than a week before their planned visit and, according to the ELCJHL report, were assured by the Department of Christian Communities that they had the needed permits to enter Gaza. But the two Christian leaders were turned away at Erez Crossing. Younan and Dawani were the only Palestinians in the delegation and the only ones denied entry.

"Although we are denied entry, whatever the reasons of the Israeli security, this will never change our policy. We will continue to work for justice, peace and reconciliation between the two nations and dialogue among the three religions," Younan vowed. "We still believe that violence from any side will not bring justice and peace. It will bring more hatred and extremism and bitterness between the two peoples. Only nonviolent ways will assure security for Israelis and freedom for Palestinians."

Israel and Hamas was engaged in a month-long violent conflict that ended in a mutual ceasefire on January 18. The conflict left more than 1,300 Palestinians dead, 5,400 wounded, and billions in estimated damages to the Gaza Strip.

Aid has been allowed into Gaza, but at times with severe restrictions. On Saturday, the United Nations accused Hamas of seizing 200 tonnes of food aid. The United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees, in response, has announced its intention to suspend all importing of aid into Gaza. It also demands that Hamas return all the stolen food aid and promise that such incidents will not be repeated.

As of Saturday evening, the UN agency has not received back the food aid.