Christian leaders in Jerusalem have condemned Israel’s blockade of Gaza as an immoral act that violates international law.

Christian leaders in Jerusalem have condemned Israel’s blockade of Gaza as an immoral act that violates international law. "To deny children and civilians their necessary basic commodities are not the ways to security," the heads of churches in Jerusalem and the Holy Land warned in a 22 January statement. On the same day, Israel allowed a temporary easing of its blockade which has left large parts of the Palestinian territory, which also borders Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, without access to electricity. The closure by Israel of its border crossings with Gaza was intended to put pressure on Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets into southern Israel.