Pope Francis calls for ceasefire in Holy Land

Central Gaza with homes, mosque destroyed by Israeli bombardment. Image: Vatican Media

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Holy Land. Addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for his Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father invited everyone to "continue to pray ... for the serious situation in Palestine and Israel". In particular, he asked that humanitarian aid be allowed to enter Gaza and that all hostages be freed.

The Holy Father quoted Father Ibrahim Faltas, the Egyptian Franciscan vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, who recently spoke on the Italian television programme A Sua Immagine (In his image). I listened to him and he said: "Ceasefire, Ceasefire!"

"We too, like Father Ibrahim, say Ceasefire", said the Pope, adding: "stop, brothers and sisters: war is always a defeat-always, always.

Fr Faltas has thanked Pope Francis for his appeal - saying that up til now no one has heeded the needs of the people of Gaza.

Speaking from Jerusalem, he thanked Pope Francis, saying: "... only the Holy Father among all the powerful in this world, has used the word 'Ceasefire', and said that war is a defeat for all. It is only the Pope who makes these appeals."

But his gratitude was accompanied by sadness at seeing that other "powerful people of the earth" have not heeded this cry.

"No one has listened" he said. "No one hears the needs of these people of Gaza who are homeless, without food, electricity, water, without anything."

"There are children killed, women, people with disabilities. More than 10,000 people have been killed in 24 days. There are so many children, so many women under the destroyed houses in Gaza," he said.

"Nobody knows how to help these people. In Gaza, everything is lacking, including the essential to be able to live. And all these wounded people, more than 20,000 people who cannot receive treatment and be saved. Only him, only the Holy Father is calling for a ceasefire. I hope they listen to him!"

Meanwhile, as the ground attack in the Gaza Strip intensifies and the humanitarian situation worsens, reports have emerged that some residents have had their internet connection restored today.

Father Ibrahim Faltas took the opportunity to contact his brothers and sisters sheltering in the Holy Family parish in Gaza. "Yes, communication is back but it is not stable," he explained. "I did everything I could to speak with Sister Nabila Saleh, the sister of the Holy Rosary, and Father Youssef."

"They are there with these people who are very sick. There are almost 700 people staying in their parish, sleeping there, eating there, living there," he said.

"Just imagine 700 people all in one church, while the whole of Gaza is besieged!"

"Two million people live in Gaza, without food, without electricity, without water, medicine, nothing! It is a horrible situation there. But who listens? Who sees these things?"

On Saturday, insisted the Franciscan friar, recalling the demonstrations in the streets, millions of people "asked their rulers to cease fire, to stop this hell. It really is hell! The people of Gaza are living in hell, but we too, throughout the Holy Land, are living an extremely difficult time. It is a hell for everyone."