Catholic bishops of the Holy Land celebrate the ceasefire in Gaza as a step towards lasting peace

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL), which includes bishops, exarchs and eparchs of the region, have expressed their deep joy at the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, which seeks to end hostilities, release hostages Israelis and Palestinian prisoners.

On Friday night, the Israeli Cabinet approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, negotiated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. In the first 42-day phase, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and the elderly, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children.

In a statement released on January 16, the prelates stressed the importance of this new ceasefire agreement, which was wait for it to come into force on Sunday, as an essential step to alleviate human suffering and stop destruction in the region.

“We hope this ceasefire marks an end to the violence that has caused immeasurable suffering. “It is a necessary step to stop the destruction and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of countless families affected by the conflict,” they stated.

A necessary step, but not sufficient

While Catholic leaders recognize the importance of cessation of violence, they also warned that this does not mean the resolution of the conflict. “We are aware that the end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict. It is therefore necessary to seriously and credibly address the deep-rooted problems that have been at the root of this conflict for too long,” they noted.

Furthermore, they stressed that “authentic and lasting peace can only be achieved through a just solution that addresses the root causes of this long conflict.” This solution, they added, requires not only political will, but also an education focused on trust and dialogue, and recognition of the “suffering of the other.”

A time to rebuild and heal

The Ordinaries invited everyone to take advantage of this moment of calm to heal wounds, rebuild lives and regain hope. “We pray that this ceasefire brings a feeling of serenity and relief to everyone,” they stated.

They also expressed their hope that pilgrims can soon safely return to the holy places, critical to the livelihood of many Christians in the region, whose influx drastically decreased after the outbreak of war in October 2023.

“The Holy Places are meant to be places of prayer and peace, and we long for the day when pilgrims can visit them again in safety and spiritual joy,” they declared.

Some of the most significant sacred sites in the Holy Land, such as the churches of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the Annunciation in Nazareth and the Nativity in Bethlehem, have been declared pilgrimage destinations for Jubilee 2025. This has renewed hope that pilgrims visit them again.

International call to action

In their message, the Catholic leaders called on policymakers and the international community to develop a clear and just political vision for the postwar period. “A future built on dignity, security and freedom for all peoples is a prerequisite for true and lasting peace,” they noted.

Likewise, they urged all parties to act in good faith in the implementation of immediate measures and in the negotiation of future agreements that guarantee stability in the region.

A message of hope

At the end of their statement, the Ordinaries recalled God’s faithfulness at the beginning of the Jubilee Year dedicated to hope. “Despite the pain we have suffered, we continue to look to the future with unwavering hope. May this ceasefire inspire new efforts in favor of dialogue, mutual understanding and lasting peace for all,” they stated.

Finally, they raised a prayer for the Lord to bless this land with peace and guide everyone along the path of healing and unity. “May the Lord bless this land with peace and guide us all along the path of reconciliation and healing,” they concluded.