Published 08/07/2024 16:16 | Edited 08/07/2024 19:14
Pope Francis expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence in the Middle East, highlighting the critical situation in the Gaza Strip and the imminent threat of an Iranian attack on Israel. In his General Audience on Wednesday (7), the Pope made a fervent appeal for an immediate ceasefire and the building of peace, emphasizing the need to disarm revenge with forgiveness.
“I pray that the sincere search for peace will extinguish strife, that love will overcome hatred, and that revenge will be disarmed by forgiveness,” he said. “That the conflict will not spread and that the fire will cease immediately on all fronts, starting with Gaza where the humanitarian situation is very serious and unsustainable.”
The Pope highlighted the ongoing suffering in Gaza, where nearly 40,000 people have died since the attacks on October 7 last year. He stressed the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in the region and called for the sincere search for peace to prevail over hatred and violence. The Holy Father also extended his prayers to other countries at war, such as Ukraine, Myanmar and Sudan, and stressed the urgent need to address discrimination in Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially against women.
The Middle East is particularly tense following the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The possible Iranian attack, with the threat of retaliation from Lebanese Hezbollah, has prompted Israel to prepare for a significant military escalation. Lebanese Hezbollah has amassed an arsenal of missiles, rockets and drones, between 130,000 and 150,000, whose mass launch could overwhelm the defense capacity of the Iron Dome system.
The country is beefing up its defenses and laying down plans to deal with a possible wave of attacks. Israelis are stockpiling water and taking up positions in bunkers. Hospitals across the country have laid out plans to receive thousands of victims. The Ichilov clinic in Tel Aviv has emptied its underground parking lot and turned it into an emergency shelter. Air raid sirens have been wailing in northern Israel, and an exodus of foreigners is taking place in Lebanon in response to growing fears of a new wave of violence.
The war in the Gaza Strip has also caused a series of problems that threaten the survival of the Palestinian people. Danilo Feliciangeli, from Caritas Italy, highlights how it is now “almost impossible to find food. Medical care no longer exists, because most hospitals are out of service and there are continuous epidemics.”
Caritas Italy, which has been working in the region since before the current conflict began, is facing significant challenges in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Danilo Feliciangeli, Caritas’ Middle East officer, highlighted the difficulty of finding food and medical care in the affected area. The organization continues its work with a team of 70 health workers, trying to provide aid where possible and adapting to the constantly changing security conditions.
The seven-decade conflict in Gaza has led to an untenable situation for the Palestinian people, with an urgent need for reconciliation projects and efforts to address the root causes of the problem. Caritas stresses the importance of working for lasting peace and not just temporary solutions.
Pope Francis, in his message, reiterated the need for a global response to the conflict and called for everyone to join forces in the search for a future of peace and mutual understanding.
Source: vermelho.org.br
