Rameh parish priest: prayer in response to the 'total destruction' by Israel and Hamas
Fr Raed Abu Sahlieh reports “high tensions” with fighter jets and drones flying over northern Israel. In 58 years, he has “never seen so much anger, hatred, devastation." Israel is now censoring the media, detaining people even for social media posts. Last night was "better despite the bombings, which were a little less intense,” says Gaza parish priest. Masses are held on Zoom because of fear of bombs. Fr Szwed, of the Jewish-speaking community in Jaffa, is set to hold “the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament” so that peace may return for all.
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – The war between Israel and Hamas is "the most serious" ever, worst that the previous conflicts over the decades due to the level of violence on "both sides”. There is great fear that the army "will not stop" until it carries out the "total destruction" of the militia that controls Gaza, this according to Fr Raed Abu Sahlieh, parish priest of St Anthony's Church in Rameh, northern Israel.
For the Palestinian clergyman, who is also assistant to the local school of the Latin Patriarchate, such fears have made that more important today’s prayer and fasting for peace called by the Primate of Jerusalem of the Latins, Card Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
"We are 15 km from the border with Lebanon and tensions are running high; even now you can hear fighter jets flying over. Day and night, drones patrol the area.”
Northern front
Israel lost at least 1,500 people in the first days of the attack, mostly on 7 October during the very first phase of the Hamas offensive, including 300 soldiers, and civilians, plus more than 3,000 wounded and almost 150 hostages held by Hamas in the Strip.
For the government, “it is a serious failure, because not even in the Six-Day War, with its 800 dead, did the country pay such a toll in blood." In the north, at least seven deaths have also been reported in clashes with Hezbollah.
Still, "aiming at the destruction of Hamas with bombing from above or by penetrating the Strip presents enormous risks" because, in this case, it will not only be ground warfare but the real game will be played "in the underground tunnels" and it will be "very dangerous".
What is certain for Fr Raed is that "in 58 years, we have never seen so much anger, hatred and devastation, with Israel seeking to wash away the shame in front of the world" and the government "responding to citizens" enraged and frightened by the hole in the defensive wall.
Meanwhile, the authorities have imposed tight control over information, making extensive use of censorship, including preventive censorship.
"No one dares to say a word about the situation, while the news coverage is steered. You can also be stopped and questioned for a comment on social media, like Palestinian singer Dalal Abu Amneh who was held overnight and grilled for sharing certain words (There is no winner but Allah), which actually is a popular saying without any "jihadi" connotation.
Today, the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, is voting a law "to ban al Jazeera and its broadcasts from the West Bank,” he added.
Christian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, killed in an army raid in Jenin in May 2022, worked for the Qatar-owned network. The Gulf state also hosted Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh for a while.
The revenge of the cradle
“There is great fear,” the priest explained. “Activities in the parish, including the school, have been suspended and lessons are carried out remotely via Zoom" like during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every day "children send videos while praying or singing for peace," but war seems very likely, "which will be followed by an internal settling of accounts within Israel, because everyone will be judged" starting with government officials.
Among Palestinians, the "revenge of the cradle” is emerging as a strong rhetorical argument, with at least 50,000 pregnant Palestinian women saying: "We may lose 10,000 fighters, but we already have 50,000 who will replace them.”
"This is something new in terms of slogans and claims, linked to the ongoing conflict,” noted the Palestinian priest, who has been active in Gaza for years with Caritas. “The bombs and the lack of water and electricity at the hands of Israel are being answered with new births.”
In this head-on confrontation, the weakness of Fatah and its elderly leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has emerged ever more clearly.
"There is a clear split between Gaza and the Occupied Territories (West Bank), where an aging and weak Abbas preferred non-violence, never supported armed resistance, but this kind of opposition needs a charismatic leader. He can't do that. He is not able to draw crowds, and his recent condemnation of Hamas has been misunderstood by the Palestinian people.
“He is asking for help and has 60,000 armed policemen at his disposal, but he carries no weight nowadays, nor any capacity for dialogue, also because he has not been in direct contact" with Hamas leaders.
Christians pray for peace
Christians have responded with prayers and fasting to the madness of war with its corollary of blood and death amid a spiral of violence.
Reached in Bethlehem, where he is in constant contact with the nuns and faithful in Gaza, waiting to return with the permission of Israeli authorities, the local parish priest, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, said that last night was "better despite the bombings, which were a little less intense" in the area where Christians are holding up.
The previous night, it was "terrible, but last night, people even managed to rest,” he told AsiaNews. “I hope to be able to return soon, but for now I work from here, from the city of peace, hoping that it can spread to the whole Holy Land.
"We strongly call for humanitarian corridors. On behalf of the faithful, I thank Pope Francis and the Church for their closeness to all the people of the Strip, including Muslims who suffer like us."
Citing the pontiff who said that “terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent people,” Fr Romanelli also called for the "release of civilian hostages, burial of the dead, and the care of the wounded.”
In a message posted yesterday on the Latin Patriarchate’s website, Card Pierbattista Pizzaballa called on the faithful to join “us on this day of prayer", working “for the good of our community" and "the good of the Holy Land”.
Addressing his brothers, sisters and young people, the cardinal spoke "with a heavy heart" about "these terrible days of hatred, violence, and war" against which "we must be united in prayer" that allows us to be closer to Jesus.
Prayer, the Latin primate noted, "does not change the situation but lights up the heart and eyes to look at reality not with hatred but as human beings”. As Christians we need to find "room for hope" in the face of the abyss of violence.
The day of fasting and prayer has elicited a positive response, but fear of leaving home remains strong. Like during the pandemic, the churches in the Holy Land have turned to Internet to allow the greatest number of faithful to follow the services.
"In all the convents of the city, we have promoted moments of prayer. In addition to this, there will be a special moment, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6 to 8 pm,” said Fr Apolinary Szwed, Franciscan, head of the Hebrew-speaking community in Jaffa.
"We have no idea how many faithful in the community will be able to participate. These days people dread to leave their homes, which is why the services are broadcast on Zoom. Everyone hopes the war will end and peace will finally return for all."
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21/02/2006
