Israeli strikes have continued to ravage the Gaza Strip. At least 35 Palestinians were killed, including 12 guarding aid trucks and medics on December 12. In the midst of the conflict, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem expressed his belief that the end to the violence is near.

The peak is behind us

“I think that the peak of the war in Gaza is behind us,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa stated at a press conference organized by Aid to the Church in Need. He argued the ceasefire established between Hezbollah and Israel has an impact on Gaza and Hamas. The Patriarch explained his impression “is that in the coming weeks or months, we will arrive at some compromise.”

On November 27, Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire agreement after 14 months of conflict. Both sides have since argued the other has violated the agreement. Even if this fragile ceasefire lasts and extends to the Gaza Strip, Cardinal Pizzaballa explained the end of military attacks does not mean the end of the conflict.

The Patriarch posed the question, “When the military operation finishes, what will life be like in Gaza? Who will be there?” He stressed that it would take years to start to rebuild the community and life for Palestinians. “I am sure the border with Israel will remain closed, so what is the future for these people?”

Long-lasting concerns

One of the concerns Cardinal Pizzaballa has outlined is the extent of distrust and hatred in the Holy Land—from hate speech to denying the other. Compared to other wars and conflicts, the Patriarch argued this one has been different. There is a before and after October 7 and “the kind of violence that took place, and the emotional impact on the respective populations has been enormous.”

When the conflict ends, it will not be a simple fix. “We can rebuild the infrastructure,” the Patriarch said, “but how can we rebuild relationships?” For Christians, who make up 1.5% of the Holy Land's population, Cardinal Pizzaballa described their position as “privileged” as they have “the freedom to connect with everyone.”

Hope in the face of conflict

However, life in the Holy Land amidst the conflict has not been easy for Christians. Almost all the Christians who worked in Israel have had their permits revoked after October 7, 2023. The Patriarch stressed the need to keep Christians in the Holy Land to “keep the memory of Jesus alive in the land of Jesus.”

Yet, he warned hope for the future should not be tied to a political solution because “there is no short-term solution.” Cardinal Pizzaballa explained hope is tied to faith. He highlighted this is not simply “nice words, but it is real. Everywhere, from Gaza to the West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel.” The Patriarch described scenes of people committing “themselves to doing something for others.” While these little acts might not change the political situation, Cardinal Pizzaballa said “There is hope” because it means “ we can change something where we are.