During their Spring assembly in Maynooth, Ireland’s Catholic Bishops have demanded an immediate halt to the continuous violence, injuries, and damage to property and infrastructure prevalent in Gaza. They endorsed the wishes of many in their community and all peace-loving individuals in calling for a cessation to the conflict. They pleaded with Israel’s government to ensure full and unbarred access to necessities like food and water for Palestinians and uphold essential human rights. They also beseeched Hamas to release all hostages and cease their missile attacks on Israel.
The bishops indicated that all feasible pressure must be directed at Israel to stop military actions that horrifically affect innocent individuals. They unequivocally deemed any international support to Hamas’s acts of terrorism as intolerable. The international community has been criticized by the bishops for their failure to secure the rights of Palestinians to a secure homeland and freedom of movement, in accordance with a two-state solution that recognizes both Israel and Palestine.
The bishops condemned the attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank that endure less public attention and declared them morally indefensible. They contended that the current hostility is not a racial war but is opposed by individuals of all faiths due to its wide-ranging effects on the Middle East and beyond.
They emphasized the futility of maintaining conflict and human pain, particularly considering the extreme events in the Holy Land. They suggested the only way forward is through engagement and the implementation of a fair and enduring peace plan for both Palestinians and Israelis, bringing a closure to the long-term occupation restricting Palestinians’ rights and independence.
In the Lenten period, as Christians anticipate Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, Muslims approach Ramadan and Jews get ready for Passover, the bishops advocated for continuous prayers and fasting for the cause of peace.
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