As a two-week ceasefire is agreed between Iran and the US, Anglican News shares updates on how different churches across the Middle East and beyond have been dealing with the impacts of war, and working to share hope in their setting.
The Church and the impact of conflict
As news of a ceasefire in Iran spreads, the impact of six weeks of intense conflict across the Middle East becomes clearer. The statistics, as in all conflicts, are devastating and overwhelming. Stories from the front lines add colour and texture – offering examples of lament, resourcefulness and faith in conditions that should not have to be faced.
The Middle East has always been a region animated by faith. Its churches may be caught up in the violence, but they are also on the frontlines of the pastoral, humanitarian and advocacy response. Along with other faith communities, they provide places of shelter, offer medical care, maintain attention to violence that is less often reported and speak out against the drivers of conflict. Prayer is the bedrock of their response, bringing perspective, conviction and unexpected relief amidst the worst of human destruction.
In East Jerusalem, members of St George’s Cathedral and St George’s Anglican College have been taking refuge nightly in a basement bomb shelter as Iranian missiles fired against Israel’s defensive shields. Iran, retaliating against US and Israeli strikes, reportedly increased the numbers of cluster bombs it used, illegal under international law, to penetrate defences. Even when intercepted, shrapnel can be highly dangerous. Over Palm Sunday weekend, the threat posed by shrapnel was used by the Israeli authorities to prevent the traditional procession of heads of churches entering the Holy Sepulchre – a church marking the location of Jesus’s tomb. Use of ‘holy sites’ by the three Abrahamic faiths in Jerusalem is a careful and contentious balance. Reports of changes in this balance and increasing targeting of Christians have been growing over recent years. Denial of access to this church at the high point of the Christian calendar prompted the Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pizzaballa, to publish an official statement standing against the ‘grave precedent’ this set.
Across the West Bank, violence has risen sharply. In the first 11 days of the war, 6 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli settlers, who have built homes in land occupied illegally under international law. The UK and EU have been among the governments calling on Israel to hold its citizens to account. Palestinian movements are severely constrained; young people are arrested without charge under martial law, and their economic future remains uncertain.
In Gaza, the escalation around Iran has overshadowed the intermittent reopening of the Rafah crossing as part of the peace agreement. When open, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been able to evacuate numerous adults, mostly with trauma injuries, who could not be treated in Gaza. However, the killing of a WHO contractor in a security incident involving Israeli troops has forced the suspension of evacuations. The WHO has also welcomed a new sea route for aid deliveries, which should enable scaling up of medical supplies. The Anglican-run Al Ahli Hospital in Northern Gaza is yet to receive these supplies and anticipate a long road to needs being met. As strikes began on Iran, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 18,000 patients in Gaza still urgently needed treatment. The Diocese of Jerusalem’s Programs Development Officer monitors the long-term impact of reduced medical supplies and damaged facilities, as well as immediate need. She has been raising awareness of the amputees needing rehabilitation, the diabetes patients lacking insulin and the stunting of children who are lacking food. The Al Ahli Hospital is one of the few remaining hospitals in Gaza.
In Bahrain, Iran has retaliated to attacks from the US by targeting the US naval base and civilian infrastructure. St Christopher’s Cathedral has been closed to worshipers since the start of the war, but is now hosting daily online prayer for the region. People join from around the world. The Cathedral is providing shelter for families who live in areas more frequently targeted, including using the bishop’s residence as a sanctuary. Even in a region where attacks have been less damaging, many people now report heightened tension, sensitivity to sudden noises and fear of drones. Economic uncertainty continues for those employed in service and tourism industries and those being advised to work online outside the country.
In Lebanon, an Archdeacon reports 'we don't have shelters; we don't have sirens. Our only siren is a bomb.' Yet, he maintains that 'people love to live… Faith is not just words… We are sustained by prayer.’ Displacement is having a major impact across his area, with many outreach centres overwhelmed. As the conflict has escalated, the UN reports that over 3 million Iranians and 1 million Lebanese have had to flee their homes.
The WHO has warned that the numbers now being housed in collective shelters is increasing the risk of serious infection. Trauma and mental health are also serious concerns for the WHO, as rising cases coincide with damaged infrastructure. They report 100 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in 54 deaths and 145 injuries among health workers. A theological educator attending a church in downtown Beirut confirms heavy attacks in civilian areas, deterring many from attending worship services. But, she reports that they were ‘determined to celebrate Palm Sunday, observe Holy Week and hopefully rejoice on Easter Sunday.’
Across Africa, countries are feeling the effects of a global economy under stress and reduced humanitarian support. The first six days of war cost the US $11.3 billion. The UN estimates it would cost little over eight times this per year to stop global hunger. With oil prices dipping below $100 a barrel for the first time in weeks, drivers in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan report a jump in petrol costs far beyond what they are used to and beyond what they can afford, amidst their own renewed violence and economic struggle.
In Dubai, churches are celebrating being allowed to remain open, and that the numbers worshipping with them are only slightly reduced because of fear and people leaving the country. Christ Church Jebel Ali is close to the US port. The vicar there, Fr James Young, reports sonic booms and the sound of jets surrounding them, and Ministry of Interior messages on their phones alerting them to incoming attacks. For Fr James, this is their home, and they will stay with gratitude for the safety provided by the government. Fr James says, ‘The church has remained open … and has remained resilient. The ones always most at risk are the labourers, the low-income workers. They remain the most vulnerable, providing services to those sheltering in place. Pray especially for them.’
The Rt Revd Sean Semple, Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, has shared ongoing messages of encouragement. Recently, he shared, ‘I am nearing the end of a solidarity visit to the United Arab Emirates, which included Christ Church Jebel Ali, Holy Trinity Dubai, and St Andrew's, Abu Dhabi. The usually congested roads are remarkably empty apart from delivery scooters, motorbikes and taxis - the very people who, due to their presence on the roads, make them most vulnerable to falling debris.
‘It has been a great joy to be with the faithful people of the diocese in the UAE. Our churches here remain open due to the wisdom and goodwill of Emirati leaders, and attendance is high - between 75 and 100% of normal. Clergy report people returning to church after many years to pray for peace in the region. Seven other countries of the diocese are under sporadic attack, and some can only offer online worship… However, by God's grace, all seem to be in good heart’.
Further information and advocacy
Advocacy teams in the Anglican Communion have shared different ways for people to support churches in the midst of conflict. These include:
- Praying for peace. Follow the local communication channels for churches in places of conflict, and join online prayer meetings as an encouragement.
- Writing to or visiting local government representative to share the experiences of people across the region and to encourage de-escalation of conflict.
- Downloading the recent resources called ‘People On The Move’ which outlines ways for churches to respond to the crisis of refugees and displaced people.