Connections to CNEWA’s world Israel-Hamas War Claims Thousands of Lives
Relatives mourn at the 20 October funeral service for victims of the building collapse caused by an Israeli airstrike on the grounds of the Church of St. Porphyrios in Gaza. The Israel-Hamas war, which erupted after Hamas launched a barbaric attack on Israel on 7 October, had claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and more than 13,000 Gazans at the time of publication. About 145 Israelis were still being held hostage by Hamas. CNEWA’s regional office in Jerusalem, with staff in Gaza, has been monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza. Many of the agency’s partners in Gaza were sheltering and caring for thousands of people, including at the Arab Orthodox Cultural Center — which was flattened by an Israeli airstrike on 30 October — the YMCA and Al Ahli Arab Hospital. An explosion at the hospital killed 471 people, according to Gazan officials. A bomb also collapsed a building of the historic Church of
Confronting Global Crises Some of the world’s worst crises are happening in countries and regions where CNEWA works, including in Armenia, Ethiopia, the Holy Land and Ukraine. Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, CNEWA president, focused the most recent installments of “Connections With Msgr. Peter” on underlining these crises and CNEWA’s response efforts.
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St. Porphyrios, where the parents and an infant niece of a CNEWA staff member were sheltering and killed. Joseph Hazboun, CNEWA’s director in Jerusalem, reported that funds are “immediately required” to sustain the vast humanitarian needs in Gaza. Provisions to date have included food, potable water, fire extinguishers, medicine and clothes. However, the needs continue to increase, he said. In this time of war, as the minority Christian population in the Holy Land faces yet another potential mass exodus, Mr. Hazboun reflects on the Christian commitment to the land where Jesus walked in “A Letter From the Holy Land” on Page 14.
A special edition of “Connections” on 27 September featured Adriana Bara, national director of CNEWA in Canada, and Anna Dombrovska, projects officer, to speak about their solidarity visit to Ukraine this past summer and the ongoing needs of CNEWAsupported projects in Ukraine. “From east to west, from south to north, we help to bring food,
warmth, shelter, medication, psychological relief, spiritual support,” said Ms. Dombrovska. “And all of that is brought with the love of God.” To catch up on CNEWA’s efforts in these regions in crisis, watch the latest installments of “Connections With Msgr. Peter” at youtube.com/CNEWA.