Andy Drozdziak
UK Catholic leaders have condemned the ‘horrific attacks by Hamas’ which have led to over 1,000 deaths, and said that ‘violence is never a solution.’
The war began after Palestinian militant group Hamas stormed into Israel last Saturday, bringing gunbattles to its streets for the first time in decades.
CAFOD said: “CAFOD condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas and is deeply saddened at the sudden escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza and its tragic human toll.
“We believe that there is no justification for violence in any situation. We hope and pray that parties on all sides will come together to provide a just and peaceful long-term solution to stop the cycle of death, destruction and suffering for Palestinian and Israeli families.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is “at war”. Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, warned in response that “this war crime” would not be forgiven. Retaliatory strikes have killed hundreds in Gaza.
In England, protests have taken place in Manchester and London, where police were forced to separate pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups in Kensington.
Following the incursion, Cardinal Vincent Nichols asked the faithful to pray for peace.
“Today I ask your prayers that, at the intercession of Mary, the Holy Spirit may be a bringer of peace in the conflicts spreading at this time in Israel and Gaza. Having visited Gaza on two occasions, my heart goes out to its people who will now bear the consequences of the attack on Israel by Hamas militants,” Cardinal Nichols said.
“Violence is never a solution. Retribution is never a contribution to peace. Please pray today for that peace. Pray for all who have lost their lives and for the immediate release of those taken hostage.”
“Pray especially for the small but active Catholic community in Gaza City who at this moment will be reaching out courageously to their neighbours, trying to offer shelter and support. Today please pray the great prayer of the Rosary that this conflict, in the homeland of Mary herself, will quickly come to an end.”
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said: “We have been shocked and horrified by the outbreak of senseless violence in the Holy Land.
“Our hearts go out to the innocent people of Israel who have been murdered and terrorised and to the innocent civilians of Gaza dying in a war zone.
“We join with Pope Francis in his call for peace and echo his condemnation of this widespread outbreak of violence.”
The Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See, Raphael Schutz, confirmed he had spoken to Pope Francis and others at the Vatican, but, while noting calls for talks, said Israel had the right to respond to the Hamas incursion.
“I would say this is a catastrophe of biblical dimensions,” he said. “Whole families were murdered – grandparents, parents and children, in villages, in kibbutzim. This is a national trauma.”
Horrific reports described members of the Israeli Defence Force finding babies slaughtered in their homes. “This is on a scale that we have not known, I would say, since the beginning of the establishment of Israel. It is our 9/11,” Schutz said, repeating a line from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said his country is now at war and would do all needed to end the threat of Hamas “once and for all.”
Photo: People mourn at the graveside of Eden Guez during her funeral in Ashkelon, Israel. Eden was among 250 young people killed while attending a music festival in southern Israel after it was targeted by Hamas gunmen from Gaza.
Photo by Violeta Santos Moura, Reuters