Trump peace plan to end Israel-Hamas war in Gaza met with cautious optimism, skepticism September 30, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News President Donald Trump released a 20-point peace plan to end the Israel-Hamas war Sept. 29, which was met with cautious optimism from some world leaders and skepticism from others as it remained to be seen whether Hamas would accept the agreement amid increasing international concern about humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
Christian leaders blame Israel for dwindling number of Christians in Holy Land September 30, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, World News Christian leaders in the Holy Land, as well as Palestinian government officials, condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly and blamed the Israeli occupation for the decreasing number of Christians in the area.
Cardinal Pizzaballa: Situation in Gaza a ‘disaster,’ two-state solution ‘less and less real’ September 25, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News In an interview before the second anniversary of Israel-Hamas war, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem said that “what is happening militarily in Gaza is a disaster,” with the consequences of a “human devastation,” and “brutalization of mutual relations between Israelis and Palestinians.”
At UN, Trump shifts tone on Ukraine, calls for Gaza ceasefire September 24, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, War in Ukraine, World News President Donald Trump on Sept. 23 addressed the U.N. General Assembly amid the backdrop of conflict in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as world leaders still question the extent to which the U.S. will be involved in global affairs as the Trump administration implements its “America First” foreign policy.
UN’s genocide finding in Gaza seen hampered by ‘serious weakness’ in Security Council September 18, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News An independent United Nations inquiry commission has concluded Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, but a “serious weakness” in the U.N.’s Security Council could prevent taking action in accord with the Genocide Convention, said Father Elias D. Mallon, special assistant to the president of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association-Pontifical Mission.
Palestinians are living in ‘unacceptable’ conditions, pope says September 17, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As tens of thousands of Palestinians were fleeing their homes as Israel launched a major new ground offensive in Gaza City, Pope Leo XIV expressed his “profound closeness to the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Pope phones Gaza parish as Israel launches new offensive on city September 16, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Just a few hours after Israel launched a major new ground offensive in Gaza City, Pope Leo XIV called the pastor of the city’s only Latin-rite parish to express his concern, his prayers and his closeness, the Vatican press office said.
Calls from pope to Gaza church bring ‘great joy,’ says parish priest September 11, 2025By Carol Glatz Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Getting phone calls from the pope continues to bring “great joy” to the hundreds of people receiving shelter and support from the only Latin-rite Catholic church in Gaza, the parish priest said.
‘We need to pray a lot,’ pope says after Israeli attack in Qatar September 9, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The “whole situation” in the Middle East “is very serious,” Pope Leo XIV told reporters after Israel launched an attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar.
Archbishop Lori and others visit Holy Land to provide support, hope September 9, 2025By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, Local News, News Archbishop William E. Lori and leaders of the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Near East Welfare Association visited Jerusalem, the Palestinian West Bank and other parts of the Holy Lands Sept. 2-6, connecting with ministries serving those in the conflict area.
Pope meets Israeli president, discusses ‘tragic’ situation in Gaza September 4, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As Israeli military operations in Gaza continued, Pope Leo XIV met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Vatican.
Catholic aid workers help rebuild shattered West Bank economy amid war September 1, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As the Israel-Hamas War nears the two-year mark, Catholic humanitarians are working to create jobs and livelihoods amid the shattered economy of the West Bank, the area between Israel and the River Jordan that is home to more than 3 million Palestinians and some 700,000 Jews.
