Patriarch Pizzaballa: ‘The peak of war in Gaza is behind us’

Patriarch Pizzaballa: ‘The peak of war in Gaza is behind us’

Vatican news

During a press conference with Aid to the Church in Need, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, underlined his impression “that in the weeks or months to come we will reach a compromise”.

By Kielce Gussie

Israeli strikes continued to ravage the Gaza Strip. At least 35 Palestinians were killed, including 12 aid truck guards and medical staff, on December 12. In the midst of the conflict, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem expressed his conviction that the end of the violence is near.

The summit is behind us

“I think the peak of the war in Gaza is behind us,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said at a news conference organized by Aid to the Church in Need. He argued that the ceasefire established between Hezbollah and Israel has an impact on Gaza and Hamas. The patriarch explained that his impression “is that in the coming weeks or months we will reach a compromise.”

A woman walks among rubble following an Israeli airstrike in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp on December 13.

A woman walks among rubble following an Israeli airstrike in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp on December 13.

On November 27, Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire agreement after 14 months of conflict. Both sides have since argued that the other violated the agreement. Even if this fragile ceasefire persists and extends to the Gaza Strip, Cardinal Pizzaballa explained that the end of military attacks does not mean the end of the conflict.

The Patriarch asked the question: “When the military operation is over, what will life be like in Gaza?” Who will be there? He stressed that it would take years to begin rebuilding the community and the lives of Palestinians. “I’m sure the border with Israel will remain closed, so what is the future for these people?

Long-term concerns

One of the concerns highlighted by Cardinal Pizzaballa is the extent of distrust and hatred in the Holy Land – from hate speech to the negation of the other. Compared to other wars and conflicts, the patriarch said this one was different. There is a before and after October 7 and “the type of violence that took place and the emotional impact on the respective populations was enormous”.

Cardinal Pizzaballa visits the West Bank city of Jenin in September 2024

Cardinal Pizzaballa visits the West Bank city of Jenin in September 2024

When the conflict ends, the solution will not be simple. “We can rebuild infrastructure,” the patriarch said, “but how can we rebuild relationships? For Christians, who make up 1.5% of the Holy Land’s population, Cardinal Pizzaballa called their position “privileged” because they have “the freedom to connect with everyone.”

Hope in the face of conflict

However, life in the Holy Land, amid the conflict, has not been easy for Christians. Almost all Christians who worked in Israel had their permits revoked after October 7, 2023. The patriarch stressed the need to keep Christians in the Holy Land to “keep the memory of Jesus alive in the land of Jesus.”

He warned, however, that hope for the future should not be linked to a political solution because “there is no short-term solution.” Cardinal Pizzaballa explained that hope is linked to faith. He stressed that it is not just “nice words, but it is real.” Everywhere, from Gaza to the West Bank, including Jerusalem and Israel. The patriarch described scenes of people committing “themselves to do something for others.” Although these small acts may not change the political situation, Cardinal Pizzaballa said, “There is hope” because it means “we can change something where we are.”

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