Jerusalem: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land has issued a scathing condemnation of Israel's siege on Gaza, accusing it of using hunger as a weapon to accelerate ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar has highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, as the blockade has severely restricted access to essential supplies and aid.
According to TRTworld.com, Bishop Azar revealed that the world is witnessing mass starvation due to the prolonged blockade, which has nearly halted humanitarian assistance. The limited aid that manages to enter Gaza is distributed at perilous points, leaving many vulnerable. The bishop's statement underscores the severe impact on children, with one in five facing acute malnutrition. He reported that 113 Palestinians, including 81 children, have already succumbed to starvation, with dozens of deaths occurring in recent days alone.
Eyewitness accounts from Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa corroborate the bishop's claims, as they have observed families enduring long waits under the scorching sun for mere pieces of bread. The church's statement concludes with a heartfelt prayer for those suffering in Gaza and a call for immediate action: "Give us this day our daily bread… we call out for an immediate ceasefire, an end to this genocide, and for justice to come to our land."