Gaza

For the Jewish leader, a leading figure in relations with Christians and Muslims, the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi is a "natural partner" to develop point 18 of the US plan to end the war in Gaza. “Such a clause already appears in the Abraham Accords, but nothing was implemented,” he said. For him, everyone is “blessed by the presence of as very wise as well as deeply spiritual Latin Patriarch (Pierbattista Pizzaballa) who understands the fears and aspirations of the different sides of conflict.”

The Palestinian Catholic leader welcomes the 20-point Gaza proposal. For him, it is imperative to stop death and destruction. The issue of Hamas (which is factionally divided) still needs to be addressed. There is hope for a first step towards ending the conflict, and rebuilding without displacing the population or turning Gaza into a “Riviera”. An international force is important as is the role of Muslim countries like Indonesia.

Yesterday, a France-Saudi proposal to recognise full Palestinian sovereignty alongside Israel was presented at the UN. So far, 152 of 193 countries are in favour, but the United States remains opposed. One of the points outlined by Macron in his address is an “International Stabilization Mission”. For Misk, the vote puts the spotlight back on Palestine, but it is only "the first phase”; “other actions" are needed. In the future Palestine, “Muslims, Christians, and Jews must be equal before the law”.

A petition launched by the activist group Zazim brings together Jewish and Arab citizens. The goal is to reach 10,000 signatures by 22 September, when the session promoted by France and Saudi Arabia is scheduled to take place at the UN General Assembly. The initiative is also supported by relatives of the victims of 7 October.

The former apostolic vicar of Anatolia is among the more than 500 signatories of the appeal denouncing the “humanitarian tragedy” of the Palestinian civilian population. On 22 September in Rome, public prayer for an end to “genocide” and for “unarmed and disarming” peace. From the international community and the West, “no real attempt to stop Israel”; behind this war, “a formidable business. Stop sending weapons”.

Five kilometres from the border with Israel, the institute founded under the Ottoman Empire in 1881 for Christian girls is fighting for survival. Fr Youssef Nasr: Catholic schools welcome around 190,000 students, 20% of the total and 30% of private schools. Non-Christians account for 30%, although in some areas the figure exceeds 60%. The economic challenge for survival and post-war ethnic tensions.

In the Holy Year of Hope, such a deed is designed to provide relief and comfort to the many families experiencing financial hardship. This crisis has been ongoing for some time, partly due to Israeli government cuts, and exacerbated by the recent years of war. For Cardinal Pizzaballa, “This was not an easy decision” because it means loss of revenues, but it is a sign of “grace” in “a context of violence”.

After Israeli jets and drones struck Hamas officials who were in Qatar yesterday to discuss the truce and the release of hostages, the outcome of the attack, which left at least six dead, remains uncertain. For Bishop Berardi, the operation was a surprise, but Qatari leaders are sending signals that things are normal. Through letters and money, the children of the vicariate are expressing their solidarity with their peers in Gaza.

During the night, a drone attacked one of the boats off the coast of Tunisia. Suspicions point to Israel. A dozen Asian countries have joined the international initiative of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a symbol of “resilience” as its name suggests in Arabic. Filipino activist: it is important to show “our solidarity”.

At least seven people are in serious condition. Hamas and Islamic Jihad deny involvement in an attack that has not yet been claimed. The movement that controls Gaza commends the attackers, while the Palestinian Authority condemns them. Ben Gvir calls for the death penalty “for terrorists”. Speaking to AsiaNews, Rabbi Milgrom lamented this “terrible attack,” saying that “ we must remain united” with the aim of "achieving peace”.

In a reflection for AsiaNews, Archbishop Mathieu criticises the ‘colonial hegemony’ that distorts the reality of an ‘intrinsically multipolar’ region. ‘Peace cannot be built on the ideology of a so-called free interventionist world that dehumanises parts of populations that are not aligned with them.’ Tension rises over nuclear issue: “E3” countries want to reactivate snapback mechanism, Tehran threatens to withdraw from Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Cardinal Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Theophilus III reject the prospect of "evacuation" in the face of the Israeli military operation already underway. “There can be no future based on imprisonment, the displacement of Palestinians, or revenge,” they say. The Sisters of Mother Teresa, who arrived in 1973 after the killing of the local parish priest, serve a community devastated by hunger and war. In Tel Aviv, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum is marking a “National Day of Struggle”.