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Middle East Pope Francis

Pope calls for extension of truce between Israel and Hamas

Pope Francis has called for an extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, saying that “war is always a defeat” for everyone except arms manufacturers. Source: Vatican News.

Eastern Rite Middle East

Cardinal Sako condemns ‘unjust’ court rejection of case against Iraqi president

Iraq’s Supreme Court has dismissed an attempt by the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church to overturn a presidential decree that removed his “institutional recognition”. Source: The Tablet.

Foreign Aid Middle East

Gaza ceasefire to be extended by two days

A ceasefire in the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas will be extended by two days, continuing a pause in seven weeks of fighting that has killed thousands and laid waste to the Palestinian enclave. Source: The Age.

Middle East

Israel and Hamas set for fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is back on track as the militants freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American, in a third set of releases under a four-day truce. Source: The Age.

Middle East

Gaza ceasefire to begin tonight ahead of hostage release

Thirteen Israeli women and children will be released in the early hours of Saturday AEDT, the first of 50 to be freed over four days, in what the Vatican calls “a very important” step forward. Source: The Australian/Vatican News.

Middle East Vatican

Church leaders hopeful hostage deal leads to end of Gaza war

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has expressed happiness at the hostage-exchange agreement reached between Israel and Hamas yesterday, and said he hoped it would lead to the end of the war. Source: NCR Online.

Charity Middle East

Caritas launches petition calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza 

Caritas Australia has echoed a statement from Caritas Internationalis, which expresses deep concern about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law unfolding in the Holy Land. 

Bishops Middle East Peace

Bishops call on people of faith to join them in praying for peace in Holy Land 

Australia’s Catholic bishops are “praying for a lasting peace” in the Holy Land and have called for people of faith to pray with them. Source: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Middle East Pope Francis

Israel agrees to daily four-hour military pauses in northern Gaza

Israel has agreed to daily four-hour military pauses in northern Gaza for humanitarian purposes, the White House has announced, while Pope Francis has again expressed his sorrow for the situation in the Holy Land. Sources: The Australian and Vatican News.