“I saw land where olive groves and vegetables once thrived, now abandoned and desolate as huge gates have been erected across entrance roads, and people can only access their crops and trees at certain times when the gates are unlocked. Israeli roads which Palestinians cannot access, are severing connection between Palestinian communities and villages, and people are being dispossessed of their land and homes...”

As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza worsens, Embrace the Middle East is calling on Christians around the world to take a day to take part in a powerful act of solidarity: Fast For Gaza.

After two months of Israel’s blockade of Gaza - preventing the entry of all aid, food, fuel and medicines – we at Embrace the Middle East echo these words from the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Embrace the Middle East mourns the passing of Pope Francis, a courageous global voice for justice, compassion, and peace. Throughout his papacy, he stood with those on the margins: the poor, the displaced, and the persecuted. His tenderness, moral clarity and unwavering commitment to the dignity of every human being resonated deeply with our mission and with the work of our partners across the Middle East.

Embrace the Middle East stands with the Diocese of Jerusalem in condemning Israel’s attack on Al Ahli Hospital during the early hours of Palm Sunday. We urge an immediate end to the war and the protection of all medical and faith-based institutions. Al-Ahli is a long-standing Embrace partner and one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza City. 

Embrace is one of over 230 global organisations to sign a letter calling on governments producing F-35 fighter jets to immediately halt arms transfers to Israel.

Embrace the Middle East is delighted to announce that The Right Revd Rachel Treweek, the Bishop of Gloucester, has joined the charity as its newest Patron.

“While this temporary pause is a vital step… it falls short of putting a permanent end to Palestinian suffering …” Embrace joins call for UK Government to ensure Gaza cessation of hostilities leads to justice and accountability.

Embrace the Middle East has collaborated with Churches for Middle East Peace to coordinate a global leaders’ letter with over 200 bishops and Christian leaders from more than 40 countries around the world, united in calling for an end to all violence and arms sales to Israel.

This Advent season, Embrace the Middle East has launched a campaign urging the UK Government to suspend arms sales to Israel amid escalating violence and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. 

Embrace the Middle East is excited to announce the publication of the 70th anniversary edition of the beloved Bethlehem Carol Sheet.

‘UNRWA has an essential and irreplaceable role in supporting Palestinian refugees and there is no viable alternative to it.’ Read our full statement in response to Israel’s decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

‘This is not a time for silence - this is a time for action. The people of Gaza cannot wait. The world must intervene now before more innocent lives are lost.’ Embrace has joined 37 other organisations in calling on global leaders to do everything in their power to stop the escalation of violence and forced evacuation in northern Gaza.

The Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) has released a statement to mark one year of unprecedented atrocity crimes and suffering in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.  As observer members of AIDA, Embrace wholly endorses the statement. We encourage you to read it in full.

Embrace has signed an open letter to the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, asking the Government to uphold human rights and international law in its trade agreements with Israel.

Earlier this week Embrace was one of 15 NGOs to sign a statement welcoming the passing of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution endorsing the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on the ‘Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem’

Embrace has signed a statement calling on all UN Member States to take urgent steps to protect people deprived of their liberty across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.

Embrace the Middle East is holding three commemorative events around the UK to mark 170 years since its foundation in 1854 and to reaffirm Embrace’s commitment to supporting Christian social witness in the Middle East.

"The Government’s recognition of the clear risk that Israel is using UK arms in serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a welcome step forward. Given that recognition ... it is insufficient that the Government has failed to end ALL arms transfers to Israel..."

On 21 August, Israeli forces issued “evacuation orders” to areas in Deir Al Balah, including parts of the so-called “humanitarian zone” where thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter, and many UK humanitarian organisations have been operating with offices and staff based there. Several organisations, including Action For Humanity, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief UK and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), have been impacted with staff forced to flee and warehouses containing desperately needed humanitarian supplies now rendered inaccessible.