#BreakingNews War Erupts between Israel and the Gaza Strip - the Latin Patriarchate Calls all to Pray for Peace “We call on the international community, the religious leaders in the region and in the world, to make every effort in helping..."



Thousands of rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel: at least 200 Israeli victims so far. There are also many hostages. The Israeli retaliation on the Strip resulted in over 230 Palestinian victims. President Benjamin Netanyahu declared:  "We are at war." There are over 1,000 injuries.
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued two statements where Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa calls “on all believers to offer Sunday Mass on October 8, 2023, for the intentions of cease-fire and an end to the ongoing war in the Holy Land, asking the Lord to prevent further bloodshed, shattering of lives, and burial of hopes.” 
“Let us all pray with one heart and one soul with Pope Francis,” the patriarchate wrote, imploring: “Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: ‘Never again war!’”
In their second statement they wrote, “We call on the international community, the religious leaders in the region and in the world, to make every effort in helping to de-escalate the situation, restore calm and work to guarantee the fundamental rights of people in the region.”
The sound of sirens throughout Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and that of explosions in the sky probably due to the interception of the defense system. Thousands of rockets have been launched from Gaza since the first light of dawn. The attack began in the early morning and the streets immediately emptied and the Israeli military command recommended citizens in the south and center of the country to "stay in protected areas". Hamas claims responsibility for the attack called "Storm-Al Aqsa".
 Dozens of armed Hamas militiamen entered Israeli territory from Gaza, including by sea or by paragliding. This surprise assault occurred on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. The Israeli government declared a state of war and launched an air retaliation on Gaza. Hamas announced that it has begun an all-out battle that will continue and expand with the primary objective of the freedom of the Palestinians and the holy sites. 
According to Giorgio Bernardelli, an expert on the Middle Eastern area, the fact that we are 50 years after the Yom Kippur War played a key factor. It was October 6, 1973, when Syria and Egypt surprisingly attacked Israel, causing a war that lasted about a month. The international community managed to resolve the crisis with a diplomatic initiative that left the situation practically unresolved, with no winners or losers. 

Thousands of rockets from the Strip were sent towards southern Israel, and incursions by militiamen who have taken control of some centers in 'enemy' territory. Israel is responding with massive air raids. A priest in the area, Fr. Romanelli, explained that for months 'we had activated all preparations for an emergency situation'.
 Israel is ready for "total war", in response to the most massive military operation in recent years launched by Hamas militiamen, who also took control of some kibbutzim in southern Israel with the local population fleeing.

The violent clashes were later joined by Islamic Jihad; the "serious" escalation "was in the air" the parish priest of Gaza, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli , underlines to AsiaNews. The priest adds "it was not known when, but many were certain that all this would happen" and people "were preparing".

This morning around 7 local time, Hamas launched a vast military operation against Israel, dubbed the "al-Aqsa Flood", which saw the launch of at least 5,000 rockets and missiles from the Strip towards Israel and the simultaneous incursion of guerrillas into Sderot , in the south.

 The head of the Islamic extremist movement that controls Gaza Mohammad Deif speaks of the "day of the great revolution" in which "we decided to put an end to all crimes" linked to the Israeli "occupation".

Israel's response was immediate, launching a vast military operation called "Iron Swords", calling tens of thousands of reservists into service and alerting the army that it is "ready for total war". Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has proclaimed a state of emergency in the south of the country and within an 80 km radius of the Strip. Despite the festive days [Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year was recently celebrated in Israel] the government has also banned gatherings in Tel Aviv and also frozen all the protests planned against the judicial reform desired by Benjamin's executive Netanyahu. Anti-missile warning sirens have sounded in several parts of the country, while ground fighting is also ongoing in at least seven locations in Israel.


Fr. Gabriel Romanelli continues the Latin patriarchate "are trying to contact those responsible for the crossing" to get the green light to cross the border, but "for now they are not responding. I hope to be able to return as soon as possible - he continues - tomorrow morning at the latest. What is happening was in the air - he states - and this is confirmed by the fact that for a few months we had activated all the preparations for an emergency situation".


The operation launched today by Hamas (and Islamic Jihad) from the Strip risks turning into an open conflict exactly 50 years after the Yom Kippur war, which caught Israel unprepared.

Sources: Vatican News and Asia News with Statements from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem 



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