Israel-Hamas war

As Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas, Caritas Jerusalem launched a “Christmas of Hope” campaign to bring joy amid ongoing suffering in the Holy Land.

“Israel’s decision to bomb is an unjustified breach of its commitment to the ceasefire,” said Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School.

Now “is clearly the time to embark upon the very long pathway of healing and reconciliation that is so profoundly needed between Palestinians and Israelis.”

As a peace deal nears, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Gaza City’s Catholic parish, said the entire Gaza Strip has experienced a “tsunami” of destruction.

With the start of the first phase of a peace deal between Israel and Gaza, Pope Leo XIV prayed for a just and lasting peace that respects all people.

Israel’s government ratified what the White House called the “first phase” of a ceasefire deal, as President Donald Trump indicated he planned to visit the region.

In his own post, Netanyahu said only, “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” an apparent reference to the hostages.

“I am deeply struck and saddened by the images of these people held prisoner in tunnels, starved,” the cardinal said. “We cannot and must not forget them.”

“Much still needs to be defined. We must not delude ourselves, but we are pleased that something new and positive is on the horizon.”

The federal government shutdown stretched into its third day with indications it would continue after lawmakers once again failed to pass a spending bill.