International development agency Christian Aid has welcomed news of the UN Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for the month of Ramadan.
Until now, the council had failed to reach full agreement but this week, while the US abstained from the vote, the remainder of the members voted in favour of the resolution, which also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Christian Aid’s Head of UK Advocacy and Campaigns, Jennifer Larbie, welcomed the news, saying: “This is certainly to be welcomed, but we sincerely hope that it lasts longer than the two weeks left of Ramadan. It must be permanent.
“And it’s vital now that this must be backed by action.
“It should not have taken this long to recognise the essential need for the violence to stop, but what matters now is to get border crossings open and get more aid to those people who so desperately need it.
“Once again, we are urging the UK Government to back these calls for a ceasefire, insist on compliance with international humanitarian law and stop selling arms to the Israeli government.
“International leaders must work together to create a permanent, lasting peace for the sake of the millions of innocent people trapped in this nightmare.”
