Palestinian Christians have accused Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, of “relegating” their plight behind “British domestic political and ecumenical considerations” in his comments on the Israel-Hamas war.
An open letter from Anglican parishioners in the West Bank says they are “utterly perplexed” by Welby’s public statements.
Welby spent four days in Jerusalem over the weekend to “show solidarity … with the Christian community in the Holy Land”, according to his website.
In a statement issued shortly before he left the UK, Welby appealed for the hostages being held by Hamas to be released and for humanitarian access to Gaza to be allowed.
“The evil and heinous terror attacks by Hamas on people in Israel were crimes against God and humanity. Israel has a legitimate right and duty to defend itself, and to pursue a proportionate and discriminate response to establish its security,” he said.
However, he added: “Israel’s bombing campaign on the heavily populated Gaza Strip is causing massive civilian casualties and suffering. The people of Gaza are running out of water, food, medical supplies and places of refuge.”
The authors of the letter to Welby said they did not remember “a single statement from our church referring to the well-documented crimes of the Israeli occupation as ‘evil and heinous crimes’, even when Anglicans have been affected.”
The letter also said: “We are utterly perplexed by the public statements coming out from your office on the current situation in Palestine. It has become clear to us that our voices as Palestinian Anglicans are not being heard in Canterbury and our interests are being relegated …
“We are afraid that domestic British ecumenical and political considerations are more relevant in your decision-making process than the accurate recognition and implementation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in general, and of the Anglican Palestinian community in particular …
“Our position unequivocally opposes all attacks against civilians regardless of national, ethnic or religious identity and calls for the full implementation of international humanitarian law.
“What we would expect from our church is to fully condemn the systematic denial of our rights and calls to annihilate our people, especially as these are being publicly expressed by the current fascist Israeli government, rather than attempting to create a balance between the oppressed and the oppressor.”
Speaking to the House of Lords on Tuesday after his return from Jerusalem, Welby condemned the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October, called for humanitarian action in Gaza, and warned that the “more heavy the casualties, the less chance there is of a renewed peace”.
He also asked the UK government to consider offering official recognition of the “supreme courage” of a British-Israeli soldier, Yosef Guedalia, who was killed by Hamas operatives on 7 October.
Welby met Jewish and Muslim leaders last week to condemn the spike in antisemitic incidents since the attack, and to call for unity between British faith communities.
The Rev Fadi Diab, the rector of Anglican churches in Ramallah and Birzeit, told the Church Times he was not involved in writing the letter, but the authors were “a group of parishioners in Ramallah and Birzeit, representing Anglican grassroots; a voice we should always listen to and support”.
A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace confirmed that Welby had received the letter, and said: “It’s essential that we listen to our Palestinian Anglican brothers and sisters, and remain in solidarity with all the Christians of the Holy Land.
“Archbishop Justin continues to call for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire, and for aid to reach the civilians of Gaza. He urges a just peace that gives freedom and security to all peoples in the Holy Land, with particular care and concern for Palestinian Christians who are too often overlooked.”
