#BreakingNews - In New Interview Cardinal Pizzaballa of Jerusalem Calls for a Gaza Ceasefire and Joins in Donations of 40 Tons of Relief - VIDEO

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, his beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in a new interview with Fr. Bill Kemmy of Ireland. The cardinal calls the situation in Gaza "objectively intolerable" and renews calls for a ceasefire. This interview follows his visit to Gaza and the over 600 Christians sheltering at the Holy Family Catholic Church.

Interviewer (Fr. Bill) : The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, his beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa  who serves in Israel and Palestine, Cyprus and Jordan, what we sometimes just simply say is the holy land. we can't talk about the holy land at the moment without talking about the terrible Dark Night of these recent months. One of the comments that you made recently, I thought was very interesting, you said it's objectively intolerable, it's an interesting phrase objectively.

It's a shame that we have to almost say that that you almost have to argue about suffering.

Cardinal: I mean the facts are very clear, about what is going on. First of all I have to say that what happened 7 October is also objectively intolerable; but also what is going on in Gaza. I mean more than 80% of the houses have been destroyed approximately 40,000 people killed. It's not the first time we have a war but we never saw people starving as we are seeing, in this proportion. I don't know, the proportion of the violence we are seeing is something that goes beyond any understanding.

Fr. Kemmy: Recently, I was reading about one of your visits to Gaza and you spoke about the condition saying it was hard to recognize the landscape was changed and the people you could see evidence of their malnourishment. What was your impression.

 I saw the pictures before entering course but when you enter inside, the impression is totally different because, as you said, the landscape totally is different. There are no roads, you have to go through the mountains of garbage and rubble. You see the population living in this ruins and especially the children. It has a very strong impact on you. There is nothing nothing working, nothing, no electricity, no water no suege.  no no switch not communication and so you live in a very, very poor conditions and so on and also our Christian Community that are living in the church compounds Orthodox and Catholic without nothing I mean they lost everything and they live in in the classrooms of the school, and they cook once or twice per week and this should be sufficient for all the week since month. The people don't eat vegetables and fruits so we have a very evident lack of vitamins you see also the phase uh the situation is very difficult to to have medicines for chronical disease if you have diabetes we have disease normal uh conditions and the lack of hygiene also has very heavy consequences on the especially the the fragile population the children and the elderly. There is no way uh to to support to help them all north of Gaza. In Gaza City there is there are about 600,000 people no hospitals nothing it's it's it's unbelievable.

Fr. Kemmy: We hear of the Holy Family Parish in Gaza and that that they're doing what they can and they're sheltering all faithful. But they haven't been immune; churches haven't been immune to the destruction maybe tell us a little bit about the parish uh before the war.

Cardinal: We had a little more than thousand Christians Catholic and Orthodox; mostly Orthodox but they are all living together now there remains 621 exactly Christians. Some of them as you said have been killed in the bombs at the beginning of the war. I think in October others died ; killed by December by some snipers and others died because lack of medical assistance and others managed when it was possible now it's not more possible; was possible to immigrate they got a foreign Visa so they could leave this terrible situation. They are all living there now, in the church compounds as I said. In very poor conditions; the the classrooms became the place where the families live. Just blankets separating families. They cook once or maximum twice per per week and this must be sufficient for all and of course there is no gas. There is a lot of wood because all these houses were destroyed there is a lot of furniture that can provide wood. It's not simple also to provide food for them there still we have  Sisters there. Mother Teresa Sisters are providing assistance to about 60 disabled children. In a disabled part of the house that has also been hit by the tanks and now they are some of them are living, (some of these children) are in the church. The part of the church that has been used as shelter for these children. We try to do what is possible to help and support them.

Fr. Kemmy: If we turn to in some ways; the remedy, and I know something that you said recently, that it's hard to even think of the peace plan; let's have a ceasefire to begin with. so that's one part of it. A lovely phrase you used recently, that hope is the daughter of Faith; where do you get your hope.

Cardinal: Hope is the daughter of Faith; but where are we with hope at the moment...don't confuse hope with optimism. I'm not very optimistic about the future, but hope is a way of being in life where you keep the faith; as a daughter of faith. Faith, if you have faith, strong faith in God or faith in something else, if you are not a believer. This gives you also the instrument to leave the present situation, in a different way, with the purpose. I'm man of the church, but also try to be a believer and faith in God also gives us the strength to do all that is possible to change something. In life we cannot change the macro-political level, but at least in our communities our relations; the people we meet to have a different attitude. Where you consider others as human beings; not to dehumanize the other which is very important in the language and the attitude the relation so and so on. Try to do something to change first of all, and the aim is not to get a result but to give expression to a desire which is inside us. 

Fr. Kemmy: What would your message be for maybe people here...watching...

Cardinal: First of all to pray for us, is very important. To talk, to organize meetings, and prayer meetings, but also conferences, whatever, about this situation where we can inform people about  what is going on in a balanced way. As much as possible, truth is very important, to say seeing their truth but also without becoming part of confrontation. We always have to be a constructive presence and to show as much as you can empathy. You cannot change the situation but we can say a word of empathy and closeness to all of us/

Fr. Kemmy: Cardinal thanks very much for joining us today thank you 

Press Release – Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

24 July 2024

Two months after the signing of the cooperation agreement (MoU) between the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Order of Malta, an additional aid delivery reaches the people in northern Gaza. It is the second delivery of vital relief supplies to the parish in Gaza, which will be distributed to people in need in the following days.

A total of 40 tons of non-perishable food in kits were delivered for distribution on July 23rd, 2024 by Malteser International, at the new distribution Center established by the Latin Patriarchate near the Patriarchate’s compound in northern Gaza. One relief kit can feed a family of five for one month. In the coming days relief kits will be distributed to families who are living in the area.

While the second humanitarian relief delivery has been successfully completed, further planning is already in progress. In addition to the provision of non-perishable food, ready-to-eat meals and specialized food for malnourished children and adults as well as other essential supplies, plans are underway to identify ways to provide medical care on the ground.
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
24 July 2024

Source: https://www.lpj.org/en/news/press-release-humanitarian-relief-to-gaza-24-july-2024 and Video above