Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Latest

Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza at Christmas 2021.

Pastor of only Catholic church in Gaza: ‘Never have we seen things like this time’

Oct 10, 2023

By Julieta Villar

Father Gabriel Romanelli expressed his gratitude for the closeness, concern, and prayers, along with the “hundreds of messages” he receives... Read more

A picture taken in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Oct. 7, 2023, shows burnt-out vehicles outside a residential building hit in a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 300 reported killed by Hamas insurgents at Israeli music festival

Oct 9, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Supernova music festival being held near Kibbutz Re’im in southwestern Israel, just a few miles from the Gaza Strip,... Read more

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City toward Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. The death toll surged to almost 1,000 since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its massive surprise attack on Israel with a barrage of rockets and a massive ground assault, officials on both sides said on Oct. 8.

U.S. bishops call for prayers for peace in Holy Land amid escalating war

Oct 9, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The strike by Hamas resulted in hundreds of Israeli deaths, as well as reports of Hamas insurgents allegedly abducting Israeli... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Parolin: Hamas attack jeopardizes peace accord with Saudi Arabia

Oct 9, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Before the attacks, the U.S. government had been involved in negotiations with Israel and Saudi Arabia working toward establishing formal... Read more

Pope Francis prays during a general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, celebrates Easter Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on April 4, 2021.

Pope Francis, Jerusalem patriarch call for peace after Hamas attack

Oct 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope issued an appeal Sunday to “please stop weapons attacks!” Read more

Cars are seen on fire following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023.

Dozens killed in surprise Hamas attacks on Israel; Netanyahu says country ‘at war’

Oct 7, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Surprise attacks by Hamas on Israel early on Saturday killed at least dozens of people. Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, pictured before his appointment as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Credit: Cristian Gennari/OESSH.

Interview with Jerusalem Patriarch Pizzaballa: Christians face coexistence problems, not persecution

Aug 26, 2023

By Elias Turk

“The overwhelming majority of the Israeli population, more than 90%, has nothing to do with [the attacks on Christians],” Pizzaballa... Read more

Pope Francis at the Angelus from St. Peter's, July 9, 2023.

Pope Francis: Do we allow ourselves to be amazed at God’s works?

Jul 9, 2023

By Rachel Thomas

The Holy Father prayed the Angelus from St. Peter’s, recalling Jesus’ praise for the Father for revealing his wonders to... Read more

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem condemns Israeli military action

Jul 5, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa condemned the military operation and bemoaned the damage to the Roman Catholic parish in Jenin. Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd at his Regina Caeli address on May 14, 2023.

Pope Francis prays for cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians

May 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope spoke hours after a truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants in Gaza went into... Read more

Pope Francis greets the crowd at his Sunday Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis: The devil uses ‘three widespread and dangerous temptations’ to divide us

Feb 26, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope also offered advice for how to overcome temptations using the Word of God. Read more

Pope Francis prayed for peace in the Holy Land at the end of his Angelus address on Jan. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis expresses sorrow over ‘spiral of death’ in the Holy Land

Jan 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his Sunday Angelus address, the pope expressed “great sorrow” for the death of Palestinians killed in an Israeli military... Read more

With a cane in his right hand, 86-year-old Pope Francis delivers his 10th Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing on Dec. 25, 2022.

On Christmas Day, Pope Francis prays for Prince of Peace to end ‘third world war’

Dec 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 25, the pope offered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi”... Read more

Pope Francis gives his weekly Angelus address on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022.

‘Violence kills the future’: Pope Francis condemns Israeli-Palestinian conflict after 2 boys die

Nov 27, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I hope that the Israeli and Palestinian authorities will more readily take to heart the search for dialogue...” Pope Francis... Read more

Members of the Holy Land Coordination meet with young people of Jerusalem at St James the Apostle Beit Hanina parish, May 21, 2022.

Bishops lament threats facing Jerusalem's Christians

May 26, 2022

By CNA Staff

At the end of a trip to the Holy Land, a group of European bishops lamented the threats to Jerusalem’s... Read more

Pope Francis meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Vatican on Nov. 4, 2021. Vatican Media.

Pope Francis meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Vatican

Nov 4, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Holy See has long supported a two-state solution. Read more

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, April 4, 2021.

Jerusalem patriarch calls for peace, cooperation in Holy Land

May 24, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Patriarch of Jerusalem urged peace, mutual understanding, and cooperation among religious groups in his homily on Saturday, underscoring the... Read more

Pope Francis addresses new ambassadors accredited to the Holy See in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, May 21, 2021.

Pope Francis calls for global prayer for peace in the Holy Land

May 21, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The pope was addressing ambassadors newly accredited to the Holy See. Read more

Buildings destroyed by airstrikes in the Gaza Strip

Remember the humanity on both sides of Israel-Gaza conflict, Catholic aid group insists

May 20, 2021

Catholics must be mindful of the humanity on both sides of conflict in Israel and Gaza, said a top official... Read more

Theodosios (Atallah Hanna), the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, delivers a speech during a demonstration in Beit Jala in the West Bank May 17, 2021 to express solidarity with Gaza and Sheikh Jarah. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images.

Gaza's only Catholic priest calls Israel-Gaza violence 'extremely serious'

May 17, 2021

By Blanca Ruiz

The sole Catholic priest in the Gaza Strip has warned of the severity of the recent violence between Israel and... Read more