AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - SABC on the conflict in the Holy Land: Bishops appeal for ceasefire

Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) - "We appeal for a ceasefire and that a humane way of dealing with the present situation be found to eliminate further suffering and deaths", says the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference Conference, SACBC), in which the Bishops of Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa are united in a statement of October 16 on the current war in Gaza (see Fides 8/10/2023).
In the statement entitled "A call for de-escalation of the war in the Holy Land and for peace," the bishops deplore the killing of civilians and call for "the immediate restoration of food, electricity and health services to the Palestinian population in Gaza". "Hamas's killing of ordinary Israeli citizens cannot be justified even by the cause Hamas claims to be fighting for. Equally, the hurt, anger, and sense of obligation by the Israeli government to avenge Hamas's acts and prevent it from causing further harm does not justify the means they apply towards this end as it results in the suffering and death of innocent Palestinians", emphasize the bishops of the three southern African countries.
"We pray for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing tensions between these two nations," it concluded. Already on October 13, the Archbishop of Cape Town, Cardinal Stephen Brislin calls on all parishes in Cape Town Archdiocese to pray for peace in the Holy Land. "I ask all our parishes to hold in prayer the very troubling situation in Palestine/ Israel and the Gaza Strip. The violence, destruction, and loss of life is deplorable and horrifying. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones, those who have been maimed, those who are displaced, and those who have been taken hostage". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/10/2023)

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