Holy Land

Caritas Jerusalem’s message on the ceasefire announcement

First, let me affirm that the ceasefire in Gaza is not just the end of a bloody phase, but a chance to save lives and restore the human dignity that was nearly crushed under the horrors of war. At Caritas Jerusalem, we see this day as a new beginning, but we know that the road to achieving real and lasting peace is long.

Throughout the war, we were present in Gaza, from its north to its south. We are part of the pulse of this people and their pain, witnesses to their suffering and resilience. In every medical point we established, in every patient we treated, in every family we supported—emotionally, morally, and materially—we carried a clear humanitarian message: humanity first, regardless of religion or affiliation.

Our work was not limited to providing physical treatment. We were there to support the mind and soul, to remind our people in Gaza that they are not alone, and that humanity is still alive. At Caritas Jerusalem, and in cooperation with our local and international partners, we will continue to work tirelessly in the reconstruction of Gaza. And here, I do not mean only rebuilding buildings but also rebuilding the human being, preserving their dignity, and giving them the chance to live the life they deserve.

In conclusion, I call on the international community to assume its responsibility, not only to end the war but to ensure it does not happen again. To our people in Gaza, I say: You are the hope, you are the light that will never be extinguished. From Caritas Jerusalem, we promise to remain by your side and to carry our humanitarian message as you have always known us.

Together, we can make this ceasefire a true beginning for lasting peace and the justice we all seek.

Caritas Jeruselum is our partner providing aid on the ground in Gaza.

“The human suffering in Gaza continues. There is no clean water, solid waste is everywhere, destruction is on-going, and diseases are spreading all over … ”

Since October the 7th , Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has been advocating to protect the lives of the vulnerable. In October, we released a statement calling for increased humanitarian aid and an end to attacks on civilians. In December we sent letters to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling on them to work towards an immediate ceasefire, and signed the #CeasefireNOW campaign.

In January we joined with our fellow aid agencies in support of a ceasefire. In March we released a joint statement with other members of our Caritas network, calling on our countries’ Prime Ministers to do more to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza and work towards a ceasefire. We signed the Grant the Visas open letter calling for humanitarian visas for Gazans with connections to Aotearoa.

Early in April Caritas joined other New Zealand-based NGOs in the Council for International Development to push the New Zealand Government to urge all parties involved in the Holy Land conflict to uphold international humanitarian law. In our joint statement Caritas CE Mena Antonio highlights the great need for action, saying – “Hundreds of thousands of civilians are directly in the line of fire, risking death, serious injury, and lasting trauma. This is abhorrent and unacceptable.”

In May, Caritas hosted a talk by Bethlehem University Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, who spoke about the impacts of the conflict to Wellington church leaders. We continue to advocate alongside New Zealand faith communities for peace and justice. In July, we responded to the tragic strike on the Holy Family School by releasing a joint statement with the Catholic Education Office, calling for “an end to attacks on civilians in the Holy Land, for all parties to cease fire and for an unhindered humanitarian corridor”.