One year ago, the longest and deadliest war between Israelis and Arabs since 1948 began, having profound effects on the Catholic Church. Pope Francis marked the anniversary of the beginning of the war in Israel after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack by calling a day of prayer and fasting for peace. On October 6, Read more
Lebanese Bishop Mounir Khairallah has expressed concern over political and economic interests hindering peace in the Middle East. Speaking during a press briefing before the first anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, Khairallah stressed that private agendas have overshadowed fundamental values such as human dignity and freedom. Khairallah voiced frustration at the world’s Read more
The Vatican has called for restraint in the Middle East as tensions escalate following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin directly urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian not to retaliate. Parolin stressed the need to avoid further conflict. This message was conveyed during a phone call Read more
Hundreds of people have gathered in Auckland’s Aotea Square this afternoon, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Today’s rally comes after close to 300 protesters gathered yesterday at the Museum Reserve in Dunedin before marching on the Octagon, chanting and wielding placards and Palestinian and Tino Rangatiratanga flags. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) spokesperson Rinad Read more
The Coalition of Ministers Supporting Israel from New Zealand condemns the antisemitic attacks and threats being levelled against the Jewish Community in our nation. We condemn the graffiti and arson attack against Jewish property in Epsom yesterday. We also condemn the intimidating rallies throughout New Zealand calling for the elimination of the State of Israel Read more
Wars always bring pressure to canonise one side and to demonise the other. It has been no different in the war between Israel and Hamas. People both in the antagonists and in their normal allies are pressed to make a choice. To choose Israel is to see its war against Hamas as just in all Read more
Children are suffering! Wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other parts of the world are destroying their futures, Pope Francis says. Speaking about the conflict in Palestine and Israel after praying the Angelus in St Peter’s Square this week, Francis asked the world to “think of the children” who suffer as a result of war. For Read more
New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission has urged people to report any instances of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or other discrimination as the conflict rages between Israel and Hamas. It comes after reports of disorder at Auckland War Memorial Museum when a small number of Palestinian sympathisers gathering to rally against the building being lit up in Israeli Read more