The escalating violence in Israel and Gaza and the impact it is having on innocent people on both sides of the conflict is very concerning. Act for Peace has supported relief and health care services in Gaza for more than 20 years, their safety and situation of our staff and partners working there is also worrisome. It is with sadness that I advise that the wife of a staff member in Gaza has died of trauma, the office of our partner, the Near East Council of Churches (NECC), was also slightly damaged by a rocket but no one was injured. The NECC’s Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees provides health care services to more than 80,000 people a year, and their clinics provide care for mothers and babies as well as mobile health services. The staff of the clinics are safe, although the home of a doctor on the board of the NECC was severely damaged by a missile strike on Sunday. The clinics have been forced to close temporarily as it is too dangerous for staff to travel, but medical staff are providing first aid where they can in their home communities.

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