Orthodox Archbishop: Muslims and Christians are united against Israel's Apartheid policies

Archbishop Atallah Hanna

The news reports filling our screens and social media feeds are as shocking as they are terrifying, as the rule of law appears to have broken down in the Holy Land - Kairos Britain reports. On Monday, 12 October Defence for Children International reported that five Palestinian children died at the hands of Israeli forces in separate incidents across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip over the past three days. On Friday six Palestinians were shot dead and over 140 were injured by Israel forces during protests in Gaza. In total 27 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed since 1 October.

A graphic video showing an injured boy, believed to have attacked a young Israeli settler, was uploaded to social media by an Israeli passerby, in which an Israeli onlooker can clearly be heard saying: "Die, son of a b***h!" while another tells police to "give" the boy, who is clearly in pain, "one in the head," several times. Please be warned that this video contains distressing images.

Jeremy Moodey, CEO of Kairos partner Embrace the Middle East writes: "A few days before I travel to Israel and Palestine, the violence just seems to be getting worse. The new phenomenon is what appears to be extra-judicial executions, or attempted executions, by the Israeli forces, emboldened by a new 'shoot-to-kill' directive from on high. This is not self-defence by any definition... Sami El Yousef, a Palestinian Christian based in Jerusalem with the Pontifical Mission has written powerfully on Facebook today:

"Humanity was lost today on the streets of Jerusalem as heavily armed police conducted extra-judicial executions against Palestinian youth and children as they were coming out of school. Watching some of the footage made me sick to my stomach. Ambulances pass by and offer no assistance, paramedics watch kids bleeding to death and stand by. Politicians spread more venomous statements to kill in the name of security. Is this the democracy and rule of law it prides itself with? Israel should look in the mirror and see the great monster it is turning out to be and be ashamed of its behaviour. I pray for the return of sanity and humanity to our streets and neighbourhoods. The world needs to intervene to stop this madness. Enough is enough."

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna has also spoken out about the atrocities, Archbishop Atallah Hanna said Muslims and Christians are united in the face of Israel's notorious apartheid policies against the Palestinian people.

Hanna said during a solidarity visit to the holy al-Aqsa Mosque: "Today we are facing a new apartheid--a kind of oppressive politics rejected by all Palestinians alike, be them Muslims or Christians."

He spoke out against what he dubbed a "preplanned terrorism" perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces and vandals against the Palestinian people.

Hanna referred to cold-blooded murder and field executions as the most atrocious cases in point. "Such racist policies are no less atrocious and perilous than South Africa's ill-famed apartheid," Archbishop Hanna said.

He hailed all Palestinians for standing firm against Israel's ongoing terrorism and aggression on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

Hanna, along with a delegation of Christian clergy, visited wounded Palestinians in Jerusalem hospitals wishing them a swift recovery.

You can read more news here on the International Middle East Media Centre website: www.imemc.org/article/73369?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

and Kairos Britain: www.kairosbritain.org.uk/

PROTEST FOR PALESTINE

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign have organised a protest outside the Israeli Embassy (Kensington High Street, W8 5NP London) on Saturday 17 October from 12-2pm.

Source: Kairos/IMEMC