NEW YORK – As Israel and Hamas close-in on a ceasefire agreement, the Catholic ordinaries in the Holy Land said the deal is a necessary step, but also acknowledged that more has to happen to “credibly address the deep-rooted issues” at the core of the conflict.
“We hope that this ceasefire will mark an important end to the violence that has caused immeasurable suffering. It is a necessary step to halt the destruction and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of countless families affected by the conflict,” the Catholic ordinaries said in a Jan. 16 statement.
“However, we are aware that the end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict,” the Catholic ordinaries said. “It is therefore necessary to seriously and credibly address the deep-rooted issues that have been at the root of this conflict for far too long.”
“Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved through a just solution that addresses the origin of this long-standing struggle,” they continued. “This requires a long process, a willingness to acknowledge each other’s suffering and a focused education in trust that leads to overcoming fear of the other and the justification of violence as a political tool.”
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