Ceasefire in Gaza: A ray of hope in the midst of darkness
Sister Virginie Habib, OP – Secretary General, Rosary Sisters
The announcement of the truce in Gaza prompted a series of local and international responses. The official voice of the local church will be presented in the first part, followed by the local inhabitants’ response in Gaza in the second, and my own personal reflection on the matter in the third.
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, and expressed its hope that the truce will put a permanent end to the “immeasurable suffering” caused by 15 months of war.
In their declaration, the Assembly stress that “the end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict”. What is needed, the Catholic Ordinaries wrote, is a “long process” to address the “deep-rooted issues” at the heart of the conflict.
In this regard, their statement called on the international community to “develop a clear and just political vision for the post-war period”.
The Ordinaries concluded that they “eagerly await the return of pilgrims to the Holy Places”.
The People in Gaza were excited to hear this news; they had been waiting for it from a long time. They celebrated it in a variety of ways that are considered customary in the area, including dancing, chanting, distributing out sweets. Some said: “I am eagerly awaiting the truce so that I can return to my home, and I am going to restore it even if I discover it in ruins.” I can live in a tent on top of the rubble of my house, and that’s sufficient. The most essential thing is that this horrific war’s nightmare ended.
Mr. Anton Asfar Secretary General of Caritas- Jerusalem, in his message regarding the Ceasefire in Gaza said: “The war destroyed hospitals, homes, and schools, as well as parts of our main office in Gaza, but it could not destroy the spirits of its residents. We saw men, women, and children in Gaza fighting to survive, and we found in their hearts courage and faith that inspire the world. In every medical point we set up, we were witnesses to painful but hopeful human stories”.

Fr. Romanelli the parish priest of the Latin Church in Gaza conveyed that the parish’s reaction to the ceasefire announcement was one of mixed emotions of joy and hope: “It’s a significant step forward, offering hope, but it does not mark the end of the conflict. We pray that this is the beginning of lasting peace. We are relying on international efforts to end the war and focus on the future of the Middle East and the Holy Land.”
He reported that “the sound of explosions and drones has finally stopped, offering relief to many. Some left the monastery to check on their homes or what remained of them. Some discovered their homes were completely destroyed, while others have yet to locate their homes or even recognize the neighborhoods they once lived in.”
He added: “People are desperately seeking aid to address severe shortages of essentials like water, fuel, and food. The hardship is palpable, but so is hope and endurance, as the community holds onto the possibility of returning to some kind of normalcy.“
The faithful sent a touching message to Pope Francis: “How joyful we are to unite in thanking His Holiness Pope Francis for his continuous support and efforts on our behalf. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank him and ask the Lord to bless him and his spiritual and humanitarian work in Gaza and throughout the world.”
The countries of the Middle East (Palestine,Lebanon, Syria, Iraq…) are going through tough and brutal political, social, economic, and human situations that frequently affect the most precious human being, whom God loved and created in his image and likeness. For many years, the people of this region have suffered in every aspect of their existence, namely history, heritage, civilization, culture, land, lives, and dignity.
Today, as Christians in the Middle East, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Either we choose to deal with these circumstances out of our faith, retaining the flame of hope alive, or we surrender to frustration and despair.

As Rosary Sisters, we share in the joy and suffering of these people. As you may be aware, our school in Gaza, which had 2000 students, was destroyed. As of right now, we are unsure of what happened to the teaching staff and students—some were killed, others who could leave had left, and those who remained were forced to leave their homes. As a result, we will be waiting to resume the educational process for many students who lost two academic years.
The most important mission to do at the present time, when you may come across a hundred reasons in your everyday life to feel hopeless, frustrated, and afraid of the uncertain future, is to never stop sowing the seeds of love, peace, and hope.
The hope we speak of is not optimism or positivism; rather, it is the fruit of a firm belief that is nourished by the Word of God in the Bible, shown in our attitude towards daily life events, deeds of charity, tolerance for others who practice different religions, races, or cultures, and grounded in reality to transform it in accordance with God’s plan for humanity. This hope is the motivation that keeps us dedicated to and committed to our mission, to be creative in our responses to difficulties and challenges, and to continually discover a way when it seems difficult to do so. It is the light that illuminates our dark moments and keeps us moving toward our ultimate goal so that we become the light to those who are entrusted to our mission to follow the path that leads them to their salvation.
We will continue to build communities and relationships that place human beings at the heart of all the contexts of what we do: in parishes, in schools, in hospitals, and in the countless peace and solidarity initiatives that, if they do not change the world, nonetheless contribute to creating contexts of peace and respect and are a witness to our Christian way of being within these difficult realities. No matter how tiny and fatigued, our communities will not give up shaping the destiny of the many last and poor ones in their territory with full realization that God is the true Master of history.