Israel-Hamas war

The Vatican secretary of state reiterated the Holy See’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for limits on AI.

“Giving children a safe place with familiar routines and trusted teachers offers them something dependable to hold onto for a few hours each day.”

Further Israeli strikes in Gaza cast doubt on the White House’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip, a University of Notre Dame scholar told OSV News.

“Even after more than nine months of the ceasefire, the war’s impact is still present in every part of daily life,” said Mousa Ayad, a hospital manager.

“We feel that we are losing everything,” said Father Fawadleh. “We are losing our land, we are losing our fruits, we are losing our income.”

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.