Fr Romanelli says that "the entire Gaza Strip is dangerous," but Gaza City is "even more so." There are “constant bombardments”, but the parish has not yet received an "evacuation order." The Custody of the Holy Land and the Latin Patriarchate are with Pope Leo fasting and praying for peace. According to Israeli military sources, 83 percent of the deaths in the Palestinian enclave are civilians.

Eighty representatives of the Modern Orthodox movement, led by Rabbi Yosef Blau, have launched an appeal calling for "moral clarity" and "responsibility" based on the values of Jewish tradition. While condemning Hamas, they call for a "response" to the tragedy in Gaza and criticise the "disturbing proposals" of Smotrich and Ben Gvir. For the rabbis, they must “speak out when our government’s actions contradict the Torah’s moral imperatives”. The Latin Patriarchate warns of evacuation orders in neighbourhoods near Gaza Catholic parish.

The complaint was made in a statement by Protecting Holy Land Christians. The “reasoning” behind the decision is said to be linked to “the Arnona issue”. The Patriarchate “is currently unable to pay the salaries of clergy, teachers and staff”. In his homily on the Assumption, Cardinal Pizzaballa affirms that the blood of every ‘innocent’ in Gaza and around the world ‘is not forgotten.’

According to the Jordanian scholar, the Netanyahu government's ultimate goal ‘goes beyond’ defeating Hamas and redrawing borders. The West Bank becomes an ‘opportunity to be exploited’ with a view to annexation. The weakness of the Palestinian Authority and the international community, the new paradigm of the Abraham Accords. Among the nations of the region, ‘more tactics than alliances’.

Sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, along with 15 other countries (but not the United States), plus the Arab League, and the European Union, the Declaration was sent to governments around the world to gather support ahead of the UN General Assembly in September. It calls for a ceasefire and an international mission to the Gaza Strip, no longer governed by Hamas, Palestinian elections within a year, and the resumption of negotiations without Israeli annexations. China offered its immediate support.

Last night, settlers again attacked the Christian village near Ramallah, setting cars on fire and spray painting walls with messages of hate. Yesterday, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, visited the parishes of Jenin and Rafidia, expressing solidarity and encouraging the Christian community to “persevere in faith amid adversity.”