Jerusalem – (March 11, 2009) – After three attempts in five weeks, three area bishops were finally allowed to enter Gaza to visit churches and humanitarian projects. Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani, ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan and Greek Catholic Archbishop Elias Chacour made their pastoral visit to Gaza on March 10. Earlier, bishops Dawani and Younan were the only two of a delegation of five bishops denied entry at the Erez Crossing between Israel and Gaza on Feb. 4. Later, the three bishops applied for permission to enter Gaza on Feb. 24 but were denied for undisclosed reasons.

On the March 10 trip, the delegation visited the Anglican Al Ahli Hospital, which served more than 400 patients and causalities during Israel's recent Gaza offensive. There they were briefed by hospital director Suheila Tarazi and Dr. Maher Ayad. The bishops visited staff and patients and prayed in the hospital church for the war dead and wounded, and for peace and justice.

Click to read full release.