As the announcement of a peace-agreement between Hamas and Israel broke around the world, Catholic leaders responded with joy and support.
However, for those who work closely with the Gazan people, the immediate needs of the region are glaring and must be address in order to have lasting peace in the Gaza strip.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, after declaring joy over the ceasefire, emphasized the need for “unconditional entry of sufficient aid” to the Gazan people.
It was also reiterated in an official statement on the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem's website that there was a great need for aid and “temporary shelters and medical facilities” to support the reestablishment of the population.
However, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is a tense one. In fact, the Parish priest of the only Catholic Church in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, spoke of his “quiet hope” and the issues that persist in the region.
FR. GABRIEL ROMANELLI
Holy Family Parish Priest
So, news has arrived that an agreement has been reached for the first phase, the first stage of what would be a kind of peace-making process; an end to this war, and finally peace in Gaza and (some say) the whole region, God willing. Even so, just as I'm filming this, bombs can still be heard, shells are still falling.
Still, this peace-treaty is the first sign of hope for region in the long time. Several other major Catholic institutions, like the United States' Conference of Catholic Bishops, praised the diplomatic work behind the peace deal and urged for the prioritization of “humanitarian assistance for the Gazan people, as well as the rebuilding of the Strip.”
CRT
