Joint Response to Anglican Archbishops
22 April 2025
We are concerned by the statement of archbishops Don Tamihere, Sione Ulu’ilakepa and Justin Duckworth of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, denouncing the missile attacks on the Anglican Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on 13 April 2025.
While we are deeply concerned for the people of Gaza, we object to one-sided statements that turn a blind eye to the misdeeds of Hamas, the instigators of this war, and the party responsible for its continuance.
Why have the archbishops not condemned Hamas for using the hospital as a command centre to plan and carry out attacks against troops and Israeli civilians?
Why have they not condemned Hamas for persistent violations of international law by conducting attacks from civilian buildings, including medical facilities?
Why have they not condemned Hamas for committing the double war crime of targeting innocent civilians while using their own civilian population as human shields?
Sadly, one child who previously suffered a head injury died as a result of the rushed evacuation process. However, the IDF consistently takes actions to mitigate civilian harm, including using precision munitions and aerial surveillance. At the hospital the IDF also provided an early warning to civilians in the area, giving time for the evacuation. No other army takes the humanitarian care for non-combatants that the IDF does.
Where is the condemnation of Hamas, who started the war with the brutal murder, rape and kidnapping of innocent civilians and has vowed to repeat 7 October again and again?
Why do the archbishops not call for Hamas to end the war by releasing all 59 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, of whom 24 are believed to be still alive?
The prophet Micah wrote:
‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’.
We respectfully call on the archbishops to act with mercy and justice for all involved in this conflict and to refrain from statements that propagate a false narrative and fan the flames of antisemitic hatred.
Hon Alfred Ngaro, Dr Sheree Trotter, Indigenous Coalition For Israel
Bryce Turner, Christians For Israel
Derek McDowell, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem
Nigel Woodley, Coalition of Ministers supporting Israel, For the Protection of Zion Trust
Beth Mather, Bridges for Peace
Tony Kan, NZ Friends of Israel Association
Yifat Goddard, Ashley Church, Israel NZ network
Dennis McLeod, Christian Friends of Israel
