The ongoing crisis in Gaza has left countless families displaced, grieving, and searching for hope amid devastation. As Catholics, we are called to respond with compassion, prayer, and a commitment to justice. The words of Christ in Matthew 25:35—”For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”—remind us that in times of suffering, our faith calls us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed.
The destruction in Gaza has been immense. According to Reuters, “The Tel Al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza City, where dozens of newly built multi-storey buildings once stood, is now largely deserted. There is no running water or electricity, and, like most buildings there, [Shaban] Shaqaleh’s home is in ruins.” Families are left without basic necessities, facing the harsh reality of displacement and uncertainty about the future.
For many, the pain of losing their homes is compounded by fear of permanent exile. “We are horrified by the destruction, the repeated displacement, and the death,” said Shaqaleh, a 47-year-old Palestinian, in an interview with Reuters. “I wanted to leave so I can secure a safe and better future for my children—until Trump said what he said.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed resettling Gaza’s Palestinian residents while redeveloping the enclave into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” However, the plan would not grant Palestinians the right to return. “After Trump’s remarks, (saying) he wanted to own Gaza and depopulate it, I cancelled the idea,” Shaqaleh said. “I fear leaving and never being able to come back. This is my homeland.”
The Catholic Church has long upheld the dignity of all people and the right to remain in one’s homeland. Pope Francis, speaking on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2023, reaffirmed that “war is always a defeat, a failure of politics and of humanity.” Forced displacement and the loss of cultural and religious identity deeply wound the human spirit.
Trump’s proposal comes amid growing tensions over the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. On February 11, 2025, he issued an ultimatum, saying that if Hamas did not release all Israeli hostages by midday on Saturday, he would propose canceling the ceasefire and “let hell break out.” In response, a Palestinian resident of Rafah, Jomaa Abu Kosh, told Reuters, “Hell worse than what we have already? Hell worse than killing? The destruction, all the practices and human crimes that have occurred in the Gaza Strip have not happened anywhere else in the world.”
Catholic social teaching emphasizes the need for diplomacy and peacebuilding. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war” (CCC 2308). Calls for further violence disregard the sacredness of human life and deepen the cycle of suffering.
In times of great suffering, our faith calls us to advocate for justice and provide relief to those in need. Caritas Internationalis, the Catholic Church’s global humanitarian organization, continues to work in Gaza, providing essential aid to families who have lost everything. But beyond material support, we must offer our prayers.
Samira Al-Sabea, a Gazan woman, told Reuters, “We are humiliated, street dogs are living a better life than us. And Trump wants to make Gaza hell? This will never happen.” Her words remind us of the desperation felt by many who are searching for hope in darkness.
The situation in Gaza requires not only international intervention but also a moral response rooted in our faith. As Catholics, we are called to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
Let us pray for the people of Gaza, for those suffering in conflict, and for world leaders to be guided by wisdom and justice. May the Holy Spirit inspire efforts for reconciliation and bring an end to the violence that has wounded so many lives.
