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Thousands of people have been killed and over a million displaced after the escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Over 14,500 Palestinians have been killed, including 6,000 children. Over 1.5 million have been displaced from their homes; supplies of water and food are fast running out.
We're calling for a ceasefire because without it, we don’t believe a safe and effective humanitarian response is possible.
Every prayer, every gift, every action brings hope to people in crisis
What's happening?
On the morning of Saturday 7 October, Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks and stormed into Israel.
1,200 Israelis have been killed and many more injured. Israeli civilians, including women and children, have been forcibly taken.
In Gaza, almost 14,500 Palestinians have been killed and 21,543 have been injured. Airstrikes have caused widespread destruction of homes, schools, healthcare facilities and telecommunication installations.
Hospitals that are already at breaking point are overwhelmed by casualties, while over a million people have been displaced. With Gaza's only power plant running out of fuel, cuts are affecting hospitals, closing food supply to shops and access to water and sanitation services. All schools are closed.
What is Christian Aid doing in response?
Christian Aid has been working with the poorest and most vulnerable people in the Middle East since the early 1950s, when we provided humanitarian relief to Palestinian refugees.
Christian Aid is supporting local partners in providing mobile medical and psychological care in Gaza, cash transfers to people displaced in Khan Younis, and supporting the small Christian community and their Muslim neighbours who are sheltering in Saint Porphyrius church in Gaza City. Christian Aid is also working with an Israeli organisation to provide trauma based psychological assistance to Israelis who have been affected by the escalation of violent conflict.
Our medical partner in Gaza is providing mobile medical and psychological care, and allows patients who have been discharged early from severely overcrowded hospitals to be treated at home. The mobile health clinic will provide people with access to a doctor, nurse, social worker, or physiotherapist and the mobile dressing team will ensure that people who require wound dressings to be changed will be reached, reducing the risk of infection.
Our partner in southern Gaza is responding to those most recently displaced as a result of the war. They are providing mattresses, medicines for people with chronic illnesses and emergency food from a community kitchen for approximately 200 displaced people. Moving forward they will be reaching more than 300 families who are most affected, with a cash grant to support them.
Your donations can make a huge difference to the current conditions of those affected.
Please donate what you can today.
We didn’t sleep last night. We are so scared. Many people have been killed. Some of our staff are evacuating and some of them have lost their houses already. We’ve not had any electricity for more than 24 hours.
Gaza's ongoing humanitarian crisis
Even before this latest escalation of violence, the humanitarian need in Gaza has been acute for many years due to the 16-year-old blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt and a lack of effective government in Gaza.
Across the occupied Palestinian territories, there is a sense of lawlessness and Palestinians feel hopeless. Gaza’s residents are living in incredibly harsh conditions, with soaring unemployment and poverty rates and a reliance on food aid.
Despite this, the international community has failed to step in, hold all sides to account and work to ensure a peace that secures justice, dignity and prosperity for all.
You can help local responders make a huge difference to so many people who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.
A prayer for the Middle East
God, hear our prayers for peace in the Middle East.
May all people in the region be protected, safe from harm.
We pray that this crisis will end now, with no further loss of life.
God, may the injured and distressed know your healing presence.
May the powerful and the decision-makers follow the paths of justice, mercy and peace.
We pray for recognition of the dignity and value of every life.
May the clamour of violence cease,
Replaced by the beating of swords into ploughshares.
God, in your name,
If you live in Northern Ireland, join us in calling on the UK Government to do all it can to ensure peace.