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Letter from Gaza: The last word is for life and peace

Herald Malaysia

4 days ago

General
Herald Malaysia

Letter from Gaza: The last word is for life and peace

L'Osservatore Romano's young contributor who was wounded in the Israeli attack on the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, shares his recollection of the raid and the beginning, for him, of a path of recovery. He affirms that even in the face of violence and despair, the final word belongs not to war, but to life and peace. Jul 26, 2025 Displaced Palestinians flee Beit Lahia, north of Gaza City (AFP or licensors) By Suhail Abu DawoodHello everyone! I'm happy to be back with another article. Today is the 656th day of war, suffering, and death in our beloved Gaza Strip. Thursday, 24 July, marked exactly one week since I was injured while I walked to the Father's house inside our church compound... It was 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 17, for my lesson on spirituality. The bomb was so strong I couldn't protect myself from the fragments, so sadly, I was injured on my lower back. The fragment damaged my right leg and caused some serious injuries inside my stomach and abdomen. I felt an excruciating pain and dropped to the floor, face down, and I started bleeding heavily. Thank be to God, Father Gabriel and Father Iusuf saw that I was injured, so they called the ambulance to take me. Father Gabriel kneeled on the floor and held my head ( He has problems in his knees ), and Father Carlos was also with us as we prayed: O Lord Jesus, help us! O Holy Virgin Mary… Thanks to God, they managed to take me to the Al-Ahly Hospital 10 minutes after I was injured. The situation there was something I couldn't describe; it was so awful. They put me in an emergency tent on the floor, and my mother, my father, my aunt, and Father Carlos stayed with me all the time. Never in my life had I felt such pain and suffering. After so many days and months, I was wounded because of the war, and instead of bringing the news of the war to you, I was the news. I will not forget what the Fathers told me when the pain was intolerable. They said to me: Remember the Calvary! Jesus was there, on the cross, suffering and dying, and you too put all your sufferings and pain on the Cross. Finally, after 2 hours of waiting, at noon, I was taken into Surgery to be operated on. Many fragments inside my abdomen caused infections. The surgery took about 5 hours, and I woke up at 7:00 pm. Many people came to visit me: my family, parishioners, and, of course, our Fathers. I was totally out of focus. My injury isn't the end of writing, but it's the beginning of a new, empty page. As always, the last word isn't for death and war, but for life and peace. Because peace is stronger than war… To be continued.... --Vatican News

‘Act of terror': US ambassador condemns settler attack on Palestinian church

First Post

20-07-2025

Politics
First Post

‘Act of terror': US ambassador condemns settler attack on Palestinian church

Although Mike Huckabee is known for his close ties to settler leaders and opposition to Palestinian statehood, his recent comments signal growing unease in Washington over escalating violence in the West Bank read more People carry the body of Palestinian Christian Saad Salama, who was killed in an Israeli strike on the Church of the Holy Family, according to medics, at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, in Gaza City July 17, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas) The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has condemned an arson attack on a historic church in the occupied West Bank, calling it an 'act of terror' and urging Israel to prosecute those responsible. Huckabee, a vocal supporter of Israeli settlements, visited the Christian town of Taybeh on Saturday (July 20), where clerics said Israeli settlers had set fire near a cemetery and a 5th-century church on July 8. The attack damaged part of the grounds near the Church of St George and came amid a surge in settler violence across the West Bank. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It is an act of terror, and it is a crime,' Huckabee said in a statement. 'Those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh, or anywhere, (should) be found and be prosecuted. Not just reprimanded, that's not enough.' The Israeli government has not commented on the incident. It has previously denounced acts of settler violence but has been accused by rights groups of failing to hold perpetrators accountable. Rare rebuke from Trump envoy Huckabee's remarks are one of the clearest public rebukes of settler violence by a Trump administration official. They follow his earlier call on Tuesday for Israel to 'aggressively investigate' the killing of a Palestinian American who was reportedly beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank. That incident, too, was described by Huckabee as a 'criminal and terrorist act'. Although Huckabee is known for his close ties to settler leaders and opposition to Palestinian statehood, his recent comments signal growing unease in Washington over escalating violence in the West Bank, which has surged since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. The Trump administration has taken a starkly different line from its predecessor. In January, President Trump lifted sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of attacking Palestinians. Tensions rise amid legal dispute The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has long been a flashpoint between settlers and Palestinians. Violence by both sides has intensified over the past nine months. The United Nations' top court has ruled that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects. Israeli leaders argue the territory is vital for national security and assert historical and biblical claims to the land.

Pope Leo calls for ceasefire in Gaza during phone call with Israeli PM Netanyahu

Herald Malaysia

19-07-2025

Politics
Herald Malaysia

Pope Leo calls for ceasefire in Gaza during phone call with Israeli PM Netanyahu

In the wake of the Israeli strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, Pope Leo XIV and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak by phone, with the Pope reaffirming the urgent need to protect places of worship and achieve a ceasefire. Jul 19, 2025 A view of the damage to the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza By Deborah Castellano LubovAmid the ongoing turmoil in the Holy Land, Pope Leo XIV and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Friday. The Holy Father renewed his appeal for negotiations and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the Holy See Press Office. "Friday morning, in his residence at Castel Gandolfo, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, following yesterday's military attack by the Israeli army that struck the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, killing three people and injuring others, including some seriously," said the Press Office in a statement. "During the conversation," it noted, "the Holy Father repeated his appeal for a renewed push for negotiations, a ceasefire and an end to the war." Moreover, it added, Pope Leo "again expressed his concern about the tragic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose children, elderly, and sick are paying an agonizing price." "Finally," the statement concluded, "the Holy Father reiterated the urgent need to protect places of worship and, especially, the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel." The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza, was struck by Israel on Thursday morning, resulting in three deaths and 10 injuries, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. In a statement, the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem appealed to leaders "to raise their voices and to do all that is necessary in order to stop this tragedy, which is humanly and morally unjustified."--Vatican News

Netanyahu calls Pope Leo XIV after deadly Israeli strike on Gazan church

18-07-2025

Politics

Netanyahu calls Pope Leo XIV after deadly Israeli strike on Gazan church

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Pope Leo XIV on Friday after Israel's deadly attack on the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza that killed three people and wounded 10 others, according to the Vatican. "During the meeting, the Holy Father renewed his appeals for renewed impetus to negotiations and for a ceasefire and an end to the war. He reiterated his concern for the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose excruciating price is being paid especially by children, the elderly, and the sick," the Vatican said in a statement to ABC News. "The Holy Father reiterated the urgency of protecting places of worship and above all the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel," the Vatican said.

July 18, 2025: Best photos from around the world

Deccan Herald