Top Anglican cleric says call for Gaza cease-fire 'moral cry for humanity'

The archbishop of Canterbury on Monday said that the call for a cease-fire is "a moral cry for humanity," as he urged that the killings in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict "must" stop.

Addressing a Church of England synod, or meeting, in London, Justin Welby said that for all Palestinians, the conflict has reawakened fears of a second Nakba, or catastrophe, which refers to the exodus of Palestinians from their lands in 1948 when the state of Israel was created.

On the grim humanitarian situation in Gaza, Welby reiterated his call for a cease-fire "with renewed urgency and even more force."

"This bloodshed must cease, hostages must be released, and aid must reach those in Gaza in dire need," said the archbishop.

Welby said that he does not believe that civilian killings and humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's attacks and siege of Gaza "can be morally justified."

"International humanitarian law exists for a reason – to protect our common humanity in war. It is our shield against barbarity," he said, adding that all allegations of violations of international law need to be investigated.

Welby said he does not have military or political answers to the crisis, however, the call for a cease-fire, he said, is a "moral cry" that they are hearing from people of many faiths and none.

Humanity must find another way to achieve justice, security and peaceful co-existence for Israelis and Palestinians, according to Welby.

"In Christ's name, we cry out from our hearts: No more. The killing must stop," he said.

As of Sunday, 22 out of 34 hospitals in the enclave had gone out of service as a result of Israel's aggression, local authorities in Gaza said.

As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 30th day, at least 11,180 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,700 women and children, and more than 28,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings including hospitals, mosques and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.