These are dramatic times again for Gaza. After
three days of low intensity Palestinian raids and Israeli retaliations,
after the killing of the head of Hamas’ military wing this afternoon and
a series of air raids, the war in the Gaza Strip has entered a much
bloodier phase, reminiscent of that witnessed in January 2009.
At least
ten deaths have been recorded in Gaza. Two of these victims were young
girls.
The situation is being followed with great concern
by Christians in the Holy Land who have a small community in the Strip
that is exposed, like all others, to violence.
Today, the Latin
Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, published a broad ranging interview
on the Patriarchate’s website, in which he deals with questions that
remain open. The first question is about the tensions which were already
running high in Gaza before this afternoon’s attacks. “The situation
was never calm or peaceful,” Fouad Twal commented.
These attacks are
part of a terrible overall reality. We are experiencing a big crisis,
marked by smaller crises. There is only one way to resolve it: a
comprehensive solution that leads to a peace that is real and just for
each of the parties involved. The problem is that there appears to be no
prospect of this happening: we live in the worry of an uncertain
future.”
In the interview, the Patriarch was asked what he
expected to happen in light of Barack Obama’s re-election as President
of the U.S., taking into account also Palestines intention to present a
request to the UN for recognition as a member State, on 29 November.
Fouad Twal answered: “All I ask of Obama is to remember his first speech
in Cairo in June 2009. We would be grateful to him if he could keep his
word regarding what he promised the Palestinian State that day. Now
that he has been re-elected, I hope he will have more courage to see
reality as it truly is and to adopt necessary measures. Regarding the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I - as would the Pope and about a hundred
or so countries -would like to see two independent States living side by
side with a lasting peace agreement.”
In the interview, Twal spoke about other
unresolved issues too: the Syrian situation with the thousands of
refugees and the concerns for Egypt. “It is difficult to deal with all
these situations and picture better conditions on the horizon - the
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said . Things change at an incredible
rate: what is said today could easily change tomorrow. But let us not
despair. We need to remember that we belong to the Church of the
Resurrection but also to the Church of Calvary. The more the going gets
tough, the more we need to remain rooted in the faith.”