[R-G] Anglican Primate speaks out against Gaza City bombing

[Sid Shniad]

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a  c  c     w  e  b      n  e  w  s 
The Anglican Church of Canada 
http://www.anglican.ca/ 
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Primate speaks out against Gaza City bombing 

Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has issued 
a joint statement with the Right Rev. David Giuliano, Moderator of the 
United Church of Canada, calling for an independent investigation into the 
Israeli bombing of the Shaja'ih Family Healthcare Centre in Gaza City on 
Jan. 10, 2009. The full text of the letter is below, or view it as a PDF: 
http://www2.anglican.ca/primate/communications/documents/2009-01-26.pdf 

January 26, 2009 

Dear Prime Minister, 

As Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and Moderator of The United 
Church of Canada, it is with heavy hearts we write to you today, urging the 
Government of Canada to call for an independent investigation into the 
Israeli bombing of the Shaja ih Family Healthcare Centre in Gaza City on 
January 10, 2009. 

We were deeply distressed to learn from the Near East Council of Churches in 
Gaza, that this church-run healthcare centre, which served approximately 
10,000 families and has been co-funded by Canadians and the Canadian 
International Development Agency, was destroyed on January 10th by missiles 
fired from the Israeli Defence Force. Such action is a violation of the 
Fourth Geneva Convention, to which both Israel and Canada are signatories. 
On behalf of church partners in Gaza and Canadian taxpayers who supported 
this clinic, we join others in calling for accountability. The United 
Nations Secretary General is also demanding a full investigation into the 
bombings of UN facilities in Gaza. 

The Shaja ih Family Healthcare Centre was an important ministry of the 
Christian community in Gaza. It fulfilled a mandate of caring for the most 
vulnerable in society, especially children and women. With the destruction 
of The Shaja ih Family Healthcare Centre, those it served suffer even 
greater vulnerability. 

The Anglican Church of Canada and The United Church of Canada are requesting 
the Government of Canada demand an independent investigation into the 
destruction of the Shaja ih Family Healthcare Centre in Gaza City, and 
assurance from the State of Israel, in occupying Gaza, of full compliance 
with international humanitarian and human rights law. 

Sincerely, 


Archbishop Fred Hiltz 
Primate 
Anglican Church of Canada 


The Right Rev. David Giuliano 
Moderator 
The United Church of Canada 

c.c.The Honourable Michael Ignatieff, Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal 
Opposition, Liberal Party; The Honourable Jack Layton, New Democratic Party; 
The Honourable Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois; Ms. Elizabeth May, Green 
Party; The Honourable Lawrence Canon, Minister for Foreign Affairs.