Churches around the globe have mobilised to assist those affected by the conflict in Gaza and to lobby their governments for a cease-fire in the packed territory where 1.5 million Palestinians live.

Although Gaza is in the glare of media publicity, too little hard information is getting out about the scale of suffering endured by ordinary people under bombardment says a leading Catholic charity.

The World Evangelical Alliance has urged the international community to make all possible efforts to end the "complex" conflict in Gaza and southern Israel and expressed sympathy for all its victims.

The escalating conflict in Gaza frays all well-intended political and faith-based efforts at peacemaking in the Middle East, says Wilson Tan. But Christian peacemaking is still a viable and necessary option.

A leading advocate of practical non-violence begins a two-week tour of Britain on Friday 16 January, offering case studies of achieving peace without guns in the Middle East and elsewhere.

A ‘mercy’ ship carrying European Parliamentarians arrives at Gaza today on an emergency mission, carrying desperately needed medical supplies. The Free Gaza Movement ship, Spirit of Humanity, left Larnaca Port yesterday.

United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon has renewed his appeal to Israel and Hamas to halt the fighting in Gaza immediately and show respect for civilians and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.

As Israel threatens to escalate its military action even further, entering the most densely populated parts of Gaza, war resisters in the region and internationally have said that violence offers no solution.

Maria Gallastegui, founder of the Peace Strike, has started a hunger strike this morning in solidarity with the people of Gaza and to protest against the escalating military assault on the people of Gaza.

A primary health care clinic in Gaza city, funded by Christian Aid has been destroyed by Israeli missile fire. The clinic, which provided free care to Gazans was run by the Near East Council of Churches.