From the Website of Vatican
Parolin: Attack on Israel ‘inhuman’, legitimate defense should not harm civilians
Cardinal
Secretary of State Pietro Parolin speaks to Vatican Media about the
outbreak of war in the Holy Land, saying the priority is the release of
hostages and affirming that the Holy See is willing to mediate.
"The Holy See is ready for any necessary mediation, as always."
Six
days after the terrorist attack on Israel, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the
Vatican Secretary of State, describes the attack last Saturday as
"inhuman".
In
an interview with Vatican Media, he also reiterates Pope Francis's
appeal for the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and calls for
proportionality in Israel's legitimate defense.
The Cardinal expresses concern for the civilian casualties in Gaza due to bombings, emphasizing that despite the ongoing events a truly just peace requires a two-state solution, "which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace and security."
Q: Your Eminence, all conflicts are terrible, but as we learned last Saturday, there has been a crescendo of unprecedented cruelty. We are witnessing a total loss of humanity. Do you think there is still room to avoid the worst?
The terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias last Saturday against thousands of Israelis who were about to celebrate the day of Simchat Torah, concluding the week of the Sukkot festival, is inhuman. The Holy See expresses complete and firm condemnation.
Furthermore, we are concerned for the men, women, children, and the elderly held hostage in Gaza. We express our solidarity with the affected families, the vast majority of whom are Jewish, and we pray for them, for those still in shock, for the wounded.
It is necessary to regain a sense of reason, abandon the blind logic of hatred, and reject violence as a solution. It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the parameter of proportionality.
I do not know how much room for dialogue there can be between Israel and the Hamas militia, but if there is—and we hope there is—it should be pursued immediately and without delay. This is to avoid further bloodshed, as is happening in Gaza, where many innocent civilian victims have been caused by the Israeli army's attacks.
The Cardinal expresses concern for the civilian casualties in Gaza due to bombings, emphasizing that despite the ongoing events a truly just peace requires a two-state solution, "which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace and security."
Q: Your Eminence, all conflicts are terrible, but as we learned last Saturday, there has been a crescendo of unprecedented cruelty. We are witnessing a total loss of humanity. Do you think there is still room to avoid the worst?
The terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias last Saturday against thousands of Israelis who were about to celebrate the day of Simchat Torah, concluding the week of the Sukkot festival, is inhuman. The Holy See expresses complete and firm condemnation.
Furthermore, we are concerned for the men, women, children, and the elderly held hostage in Gaza. We express our solidarity with the affected families, the vast majority of whom are Jewish, and we pray for them, for those still in shock, for the wounded.
It is necessary to regain a sense of reason, abandon the blind logic of hatred, and reject violence as a solution. It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the parameter of proportionality.
I do not know how much room for dialogue there can be between Israel and the Hamas militia, but if there is—and we hope there is—it should be pursued immediately and without delay. This is to avoid further bloodshed, as is happening in Gaza, where many innocent civilian victims have been caused by the Israeli army's attacks.
An IsraeliAn soldier patrols near Kibbutz Beeri, where 270 people were killed by Hamas during a music festival
Q:
Pope Francis reiterates that peace is built on justice. There is no
peace that is not just. How is this call for justice for both parties in
conflict articulated today?
Peace
can only be based on justice. The Latins liked to say, "Opus iustitiae
pax," there can be no peace among men without justice. It seems to me
that the greatest possible justice in the Holy Land is the two-state
solution, which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by
side in peace and security, meeting the aspirations of the majority.
This
solution, which is supported by the international community, has
recently seemed to some, on both sides, to be no longer feasible. For
others, it never was. The Holy See is convinced of the opposite and
continues to support it.
Now,
however, what is just? It is just for the hostages to be returned
immediately, even those held by Hamas since previous conflicts. In this
sense, I strongly renew the heartfelt appeal made and repeated by Pope
Francis in recent days. It is just that in Israel's legitimate defense,
the lives of Palestinian civilians living in Gaza should not be
endangered. It is just—indeed, essential—that in this conflict, as in
any other, humanitarian law be fully respected.
Palestinians flee to safer areas in Gaza after Israeli air strikes
Q:
Pope Francis, at the end of this Wednesday's General Audience, made an
appeal for the release of the hostages and asked for the lives of the
innocent to be spared. Do you see room for a diplomatic initiative by
the Holy See, similar to what has been undertaken for the conflict
between Russia and Ukraine?
Yes,
the release of Israeli hostages and the protection of innocent lives in
Gaza are at the heart of the problem created by Hamas's attack and the
response of the Israeli army. They are at the center of all of our
concerns: the Pope and the entire international community.
The
Holy See is ready for any necessary mediation, as always. In the
meantime, we try to use the channels that are already open. However, any
mediation to end the conflict must take into account a series of
elements that make the issue very complex and articulated, such as the
issue of Israeli settlements, security, and the issue of the city of
Jerusalem.
A
solution can be found in direct dialogue between Palestinians and
Israelis, encouraged and supported by the international community, even
though it will be more difficult now.
Q:
In two recent interviews granted to L'Osservatore Romano by Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, both
expressed their appreciation for the constant words of peace that come
from the Christian minority of the Holy Land, which is the 'salt' of
this land. However, Christians are hemmed in by the conflict and in a
situation of suffering. The situation of the small Christian community
in Gaza, which is at risk of extinction, is a cause for concern. How can
the Christians of the Holy Land be helped concretely now?
First
and foremost, with prayer and spiritual and material support. These
words of mine are meant to be a renewed affirmation of the affectionate
closeness of the Pope and the Holy See. Christians are an essential part
of the land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again.
No
one can imagine Palestine or Israel without a Christian presence, which
has been there from the beginning and will be there forever. It is true
that the small Catholic community in Gaza, about 150 families, is
suffering immensely. When one member suffers, the whole Church suffers,
and so we all suffer. We know they have gathered in the parish. The
parish priest could not return and remains in Bethlehem. Everything is
at a standstill, paralyzed, as if gripped by fear and anger.
Let
us pray for the Israelis; let us pray for the Palestinians; let us pray
for Christians, Jews, and Muslims: For the peace of Jerusalem pray...
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say, ‘Peace be with you.’ For
the sake of the house of the Lord, our God, I pray for your good.”
(Psalm 122:6-9).
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