Following increasing tension in Israeli and Palestinian territories, fatal violence erupted early this month between the Israeli military and Palestinian militant groups operating within the Gaza strip.
The outburst of violence began when Hamas, a militant and political Palestinian organization, sent Israel an ultimatum to remove soldiers from the Temple Mount complex and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood by the early evening of May 10. This ultimatum came as a result of daily clashes in East Jerusalem from controversy over the then-postponed Israeli Supreme Court decision regarding the potential evictions of four Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Very soon after it became apparent Israel would not comply, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a similar militant group, fired more than 800 rockets into Israel where three women were killed and dozens of civilians were injured as a result.
On the same evening, Israel launched air strikes into the Gaza Strip. By May 12, while air strikes and rocket fire continued, at least 35 people, including 12 children, had been killed and 220 individuals were injured in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health authorities. Meanwhile, five Israeli civilians had been killed in Palestinian strikes, according to the Israeli military.
After over a week of violence and clashes, Israel and Hamas both claimed victory on May 21 and an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire took effect. By the time of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the death toll had reached 248 with over 1,900 Palestinians wounded, while an Israeli soldier and 12 Israeli civilians had perished on the opposing side.
President Joe Biden originally signalled his support for Israel’s actions, saying on May 12, “Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.” As the conflict continued, President Biden focused more heavily on bringing the conflict to a speedy and peaceful end.
One week after his first address about the deadly conflict and following attacks in the Israeli and Palestinian territories, Pope Francis responded again to the situation after his Regina Caeli address.
“I wonder: where will hatred and vengeance lead? Do we really think we can build peace by destroying the other?” the pope asked. “Let us pray constantly that the Israelis and Palestinians may find the path of dialogue and forgiveness, to be patient builders of peace and justice, opening up, step after step, to a common hope, to a coexistence among brothers and sisters.”
After the ceasefire came into effect on May 21, Pope Francis expressed his appreciation for the outcome.
“I thank God for the decision to halt the armed conflicts and acts of violence, and I pray for pursuit of paths of dialogue and peace,” the pope said. “[Catholic communities should pray that] Israelis and Palestinians may find the path of dialogue and forgiveness, be patient builders of peace and justice, and be open, step by step, to a common hope, to coexistence among brothers and sisters.”
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, wrote to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales on May 20 about the conflict.
“The Palestinian people have been waiting for years for a dignified solution, a serene and peaceful future, in their land, in their country. For them, however, there seems to be no place in the world and, before being able to live with dignity at home, they are continually invited by the various Chancelleries to await an unknown and continually postponed future,” the Archbishop wrote.
“We will have to start rebuilding the relationships between all of us all over again, and in this sense, it will be a priority to start from the painful discovery of these days, that is, from the hatred harboured, above all, in the hearts of young people,” Archbishop Pizzaballa continued. “We must not cultivate or allow feelings of hatred to develop. We must make sure that no one, whether Jewish or Arab, feels rejected. We will have to be clearer in denouncing what divides.”
Max Montana is a senior studying philosophy and theology. When not writing for The Torch, he enjoys reading more about the Catholic faith and philosophy, serving the unborn and mothers in need, and hanging out with friends. Max is honored to hail from the state with many gators and the bishop of the moon: Florida.
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