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Middle East United States

US and Arab countries commit to upholding Gaza ceasefire

The United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have signed a “historic” declaration committing to upholding a ceasefire in Gaza, as the families of 24 deceased hostages still held by Hamas await news of their release. Source: ABC News.

Middle East Peace

Parish priest describes Gaza’s ‘tsunami’ of destruction

As a peace deal nears, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Gaza City’s Catholic parish, said the entire Gaza Strip has experienced a “tsunami” of destruction. Source: OSV News.

Middle East

Holy Land Patriarch welcomes initial Gaza peace deal ‘with joy’

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem welcomed “with joy” the announcement of an initial agreement between Hamas and Israel, but also stressed the urgency for the “unconditional” entry of humanitarian relief and sufficient aid into Gaza. Source: OSV News.

Middle East

Pope defends Cardinal after accusation by Israel’s embassy to Holy See

Israel’s embassy to the Holy See has accused Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin of implying “moral equivalence” by describing both the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s offensive in Gaza as “massacres”. Source: The Tablet.

Middle East

Top Vatican official prays for end to ‘perverse spiral of hatred’ in Israel-Gaza war

The Hamas attack on Israel two years ago “was inhuman and indefensible”, the Vatican Secretary of State said this week, and Israel’s two-year-long war on Gaza has had “disastrous and inhuman consequences”. Source: NCR Online.

Middle East

Cardinal Pizzaballa welcomes Gaza ceasefire talks as ‘first step’

As indirect ceasefire talks began in Egypt between Israel and Hamas overnight in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem lauded it as an “important and long-awaited first step”. Source: Catholic Review.

Middle East Pope Leo XIV

Pope supports US peace plan for Gaza 

Pope Leo XIV has expressed hope that the United States’ peace plan for Gaza is accepted, calling it a “realistic proposal”. Source: Vatican News.

Middle East Prayer

Caritas online service to include prayers for peace and solidarity 

Caritas Australia will host an online Service of Remembrance on October 7, marking two years since the escalation of conflict in the Holy Land, honouring all lives lost and praying for those still suffering.

Middle East United States

Netanyahu agrees to US proposal to end Gaza war

Israel has agreed to a United States proposal to end its war on Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have announced after holding talks at the White House. Source: ABC News.