World Humanitarian Day highlights tragic record sacrifice of aid workers in war zones August 19, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News As the world commemorates World Humanitarian Day 2024, the latest figures on the dire circumstances aid workers face on the frontline highlight the alarming increase in attacks against them and their work to relieve the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
Amid war, it’s ‘kind of business as usual’ in Jerusalem with ‘a certain fearfulness,’ priest says August 19, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the Israel-Hamas war edges toward the one-year mark, OSV News spoke with Jesuit Father John Paul, rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, ahead of his return to Israel following a brief visit to the U.S. in early August.
Pope pleads for restraint in Middle East after killing of Hamas leader August 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News As fears of a widening war in the Middle East grew again in early August, Pope Francis pleaded with the region’s leaders to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue.
Amid devastation of Israel-Hamas war, miracles happen, says Caritas Jerusalem August 1, 2024By Dale Gavlak OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News The staff of the international Catholic relief arm Caritas Jerusalem are expressing praise and gratitude for God’s seeming miraculous intervention on a Gaza church compound July 29.
Israel calls for entire Gaza City evacuation; U.S. bishop urges places of refuge not be targeted July 12, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The Israeli military July 10 called for all Palestinians to leave Gaza City and head south, as the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace urged civilians not be targeted and “remain outside the sphere of combat.”
Eastern church leaders describe heroic witness on front lines in conflict-ridden regions July 9, 2024By Laura Ieraci OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News The heroic work and witness of the Eastern churches in some of the world’s most conflict-ridden regions was highlighted at the annual Catholic Media Conference held in Atlanta in June.
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemns Israeli army attack on Catholic school July 8, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a strong condemnation after the Israeli military targeted a Catholic school in Gaza that killed four people, including a senior Hamas official.
After Israeli hostage rescue, pope renews call for cease-fire, humanitarian aid in Gaza June 10, 2024By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis once again renewed his call for a cease-fire in Gaza following the rescue of four hostages that led to what officials in Gaza said was the killing of more than 270 Palestinians in an Israeli rescue operation that one European Union diplomat deemed a “massacre.”
Amid prayers for peace, Vatican-Israeli tensions were on display June 7, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, World News The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s massive military response in Gaza have led to strong papal pleas for peace but also to Vatican-Israeli diplomatic tensions.
CRS official says agency has been unable to to get aid to southern Gaza Strip since May 6 May 28, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As tensions and the number of victims mount in southern Gaza Strip, Catholic Relief Services said it has not been able to get humanitarian aid through to the southern Gaza Strip since May 6 and it no longer has any supplies left in its warehouses in that area, said Jason Knapp, CRS country director for Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza.
Gaza parish community example of ‘steadfast faith,’ cardinal says May 21, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, described the small resilient community of the Holy Family Parish compound in Gaza City as one with “steadfast faith,” amid horrific destruction and constant bombardment following his return from a four-day pastoral visit during Pentecost.
‘I desired to be with them,’ says Cardinal Pizzaballa as he visits Catholic parish in Gaza May 16, 2024By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News In a previously unpublicized visit, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, entered the Gaza Strip May 16, reaching Holy Family Parish for his first pastoral visit since the outbreak of Israel-Hamas war following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
