(ZENIT News / Jerusalem, 10.05.2024).- A year after the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the ongoing violence in the Holy Land has continued unabated. Yet, as the situation in Israel, Gaza, and beyond reaches catastrophic proportions, the Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, and members of the Christian Reflection group have issued a profound appeal for hope, justice, and a long-overdue end to the cycle of violence gripping the region.
In a recently released statement, Sabbah and his colleagues emphasize that the current conflict did not begin with the attacks of 2023. Instead, they trace its roots back to a century-long struggle, starting in 1917 and peaking in pivotal moments like the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the Six-Day War of 1967. According to the group, the violence and suffering have persisted for generations, creating an enduring tragedy for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Reflecting on the relentless Israeli military retaliation, the document argues that while destruction and death are inevitable outcomes of force, security for Israelis cannot be achieved through violence alone. «True peace will only come when the tragedy of the Palestinian people is brought to an end,» they assert, urging global reflection on the deeper causes of the conflict.
A Year of Unrelenting War
The past year has seen the region submerged in war, with countless lives lost, especially in Gaza, where entire neighborhoods have been leveled to rubble. «Homes, schools, hospitals—everything is reduced to dust,» reads the statement. The human toll is staggering, with tens of thousands killed or wounded across Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and neighboring countries like Lebanon, Syria, and even Yemen. Disease, hunger, and despair are rampant in Gaza, while the broader region teeters on the edge of further destruction.
The group also questions whether the original Zionist dream of a safe homeland for the Jewish people has truly brought the security it promised. They highlight that despite decades of military action, Israel remains locked in a cycle of fear and violence that does not appear to bring lasting peace to its citizens.
Silence and Indifference from the International Community
Sabbah and his group express disappointment with the international community, which they accuse of standing by in near silence as violence escalates. Although there have been repeated calls for ceasefires, these have often been temporary, without meaningful efforts to address the underlying causes of the conflict. Arms and destructive technology continue to flow into the region, exacerbating the suffering and enabling further crimes against humanity.
Despite the world’s apparent inaction, the group calls on Christians, in particular, to find strength in their faith. «Even though we are exhausted and paralyzed by pain and fear, we must not lose hope,» they insist. Sabbah urges Christians to lean on the teachings of the Resurrection, a belief that points to life and healing beyond death and destruction. This, he suggests, should inspire action rooted in justice, equality, and the defense of all human lives—whether Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
Not a Religious War, But a Struggle for Justice
The group is clear: the conflict is not a religious war. Rather, it is a fight for fundamental rights—justice, peace, freedom, and equality. Sabbah and his colleagues stress the need to stand with all those, regardless of faith, who seek an end to the violence. This includes Israeli Jews who, like many Palestinians, are tired of the lies and ideologies that have perpetuated destruction for far too long.
The group also challenges Christian leaders, especially bishops and priests, to provide moral guidance in this dark time. «We need our pastors to help us discern the power we hold when we are united,» they write, encouraging the faithful to resist falling into hatred. They emphasize that faith in Christ compels Christians to advocate for a future without walls or discrimination—a future built on the equality and dignity of all.
The Path to Peace: Addressing the Palestinian Struggle
The authors of the statement acknowledge that lasting peace can only be achieved through a final resolution to the Palestinian struggle. The document calls for a comprehensive peace agreement, not temporary ceasefires or provisional solutions. «Israel’s immense military power can destroy, kill, and eliminate political leaders. But it cannot provide the security Israelis need,» they contend.
They insist that the international community must recognize that the root cause of the conflict is the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to live freely and equally in their own land. Only by addressing this injustice, the group believes, can the cycle of violence be broken.
A Call for Unity Across Faiths
Finally, Sabbah and the Christian Reflection group underscore the importance of solidarity between Christians and Muslims in the region. «We are one people,» they declare, urging both communities to find a path together to overcome the violence. They also call for collaboration with those Jewish Israelis who are similarly weary of the endless bloodshed, hoping to build a future based on mutual respect and shared humanity.
As the violence continues, the group’s message offers a vision of hope rooted in justice, unity, and faith—a call to reject despair and hatred in favor of a future where Israelis and Palestinians alike can live in peace.
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