- Feb 5, 2002
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JERUSALEM (OSV News) — Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem condemned a “wanton attack” by Israeli soldiers against Palestinian civilians in Gaza City who were waiting for delivery of humanitarian aid Feb. 29. Gaza health authorities said the attack left more than 100 people dead.
In the aftermath of “horrifying events” and their “cruel context,” Christian leaders condemned the attack “against innocent civilians” in a March 1 statement and called “for the warring parties to reach an immediate and lengthy ceasefire that allows for the speedy disbursement of relief supplies throughout the Gaza strip, and for the enactment of a negotiated release of those held as captives and prisoners.”
After the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught on Israeli southern border communities that left some 1,200 people dead and 253 people taken hostage into Gaza, Israel launched a fierce air and land military attack into the Gaza Strip, which to date has claimed the lives of 30,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
As the war enters its fifth month, international aid organizations have warned about the increasing dangers of infectious disease spreading and starvation. Clean water is no longer available, and food supplies have run out — with Palestinians reporting of going days without food, necessitating delivery of supplies through humanitarian aidtrucks.
Saying “thousands of dead, wounded, displaced, and the immense destruction cause suffering” of the “small and the defenseless,” Pope Francis urged in his Angelus prayer March 3: “Enough, please! Let us all say it: enough, please! Stop!”
“I encourage the continuation of negotiations for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and in the entire region, so that the hostages may be freed immediately and return to their anxiously awaiting loved ones, and the civilian population can have safe access to urgently needed humanitarian aid,” the pontiff said.
Hamas said the Feb. 29 attack could jeopardize talks in Qatar aimed at securing a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages the military organization ruling Gaza is still holding. When asked if he thought it would complicate the talks, U.S. President Joe Biden said: “I know it will.”
Continued below.
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In the aftermath of “horrifying events” and their “cruel context,” Christian leaders condemned the attack “against innocent civilians” in a March 1 statement and called “for the warring parties to reach an immediate and lengthy ceasefire that allows for the speedy disbursement of relief supplies throughout the Gaza strip, and for the enactment of a negotiated release of those held as captives and prisoners.”
After the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught on Israeli southern border communities that left some 1,200 people dead and 253 people taken hostage into Gaza, Israel launched a fierce air and land military attack into the Gaza Strip, which to date has claimed the lives of 30,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
As the war enters its fifth month, international aid organizations have warned about the increasing dangers of infectious disease spreading and starvation. Clean water is no longer available, and food supplies have run out — with Palestinians reporting of going days without food, necessitating delivery of supplies through humanitarian aidtrucks.
Saying “thousands of dead, wounded, displaced, and the immense destruction cause suffering” of the “small and the defenseless,” Pope Francis urged in his Angelus prayer March 3: “Enough, please! Let us all say it: enough, please! Stop!”
“I encourage the continuation of negotiations for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and in the entire region, so that the hostages may be freed immediately and return to their anxiously awaiting loved ones, and the civilian population can have safe access to urgently needed humanitarian aid,” the pontiff said.
Hamas said the Feb. 29 attack could jeopardize talks in Qatar aimed at securing a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages the military organization ruling Gaza is still holding. When asked if he thought it would complicate the talks, U.S. President Joe Biden said: “I know it will.”
Continued below.
Church leaders condemn latest 'wanton attack' at aid site
In the aftermath of "horrifying events" and their "cruel context," Christian leaders condemned the attack "against innocent civilians" in a March 1 statement and called "for the warring parties to reach an immediate and lengthy ceasefire that allows for the speedy disbursement of relief supplies...
www.oursundayvisitor.com
