Bishop of Chelmsford on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, was in Jerusalem last week when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal was agreed. Shortly after returning from the Holy Land, she spoke to Francis Martin about the reaction to the deal on the ground; the prospects for long-term peace in the region; and more widely about the visit, which included meeting Layan Nasir, a young Anglican woman from Birzeit who was released in December, after eight months in “administrative detention”. “As a Christian and as a person of prayer, I have to continue to hope that people of peace, people who want to see reconciliation, people who believe in justice, will find a will and a way to work together eventually to lead to a peaceful solution,” she said. The interview was recorded on Sunday (19 January). Picture: Dr Francis-Dehqani with the Archbishop in Jerusalem, Dr Hosam Naoum. Credit: Diocese of Chelmsford Limited-time digital subscription offer (until 24 January): £10 for 2 Months Digital edition PLUS 2 month free app subscription to Reflections for Daily Prayer: www.churchtimes.co.uk/subscribe