HOLY LAND
In war alongside the most fragile
The tragic attack perpetrated by Hamas on Saturday, October 7, is an unprecedented event that has shocked everyone.
We are very concerned by the spiral of violence and terror that this event has unleashed as it has caused and will cause more and more civilian casualties. In forcefully reaffirming our commitment to peace, we are preparing to offer all possible concrete help to the most fragile and needy victims of this situation.
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“Ask for peace for Jerusalem:
Psalm 122
peace be to those who love you,
Peace be upon your walls,
security in your bulwarks.
For my brothers and friends
I will say: ‘Peace be upon you!’
Through the house of the Lord our God,
I will ask for the good for you.”
Alongside the displaced
With the first aid coming in, we were able to get food parcels and baby products to displaced families near the city of Rafah.
Appeal for Peace from Jerusaelm
“Jesus as a real presence that touches, that changes our lives: for this we must pray. Prayer does not allow the heart to be polluted by hatred. Then, of course, we must work from the point of view of humanitarian support through the associations. Right now we are all a bit paralyzed, but there will come a time when there will be a need for this, we must be ready and prepared“
Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
The appeal of the director of Pro Terra Sancta, Tommaso Saltini
“Dear friends,
As head of Pro Terra Sancta, an organization engaged for many years in Israel and Palestine, I feel strongly challenged in the face of the events of these days. For years we have been engaged in various initiatives to support the Christian community of Gaza at the service of a population tried by decades of conflict, and the violence of these days frightens us, pains us, calls us into question.
We are against all violence and – as long as we are powerless in the face of it – we would like to stop it at all costs, because we love life and every human being, who is infinitely precious.
By virtue of this, as Association pro Terra Sancta, together with all the friends and collaborators involved, we ask all the parties involved – internal and external to the conflict – to promote opportunities for meeting and work to imagine new and creative solutions that bring development and peace for all.
We want a long-term political initiative to finally be implemented that gives space, life and freedom to all. This dramatic situation demands, invokes and demands new ideas, lasting political proposals that can make everyone live in peace and prosperity.
Let us invoke the Lord of heaven and earth so that He may embrace in His glory all the victims of conflict, bring peace to those who suffer, help us to forgive those who do evil.”
Tommaso Saltini
General Manager Pro Terra Sancta
Voices from the field : Carla Benelli and the persistent opportunity for dialogue
“I have to admit that I didn’t expect this level of horror. Indeed, I’ve clearly witnessed hundreds of violent events: the first and second Intifada, bus bombings that I could hear because I’ve always lived in the Old City. However, truth be told, we had never seen an event like the Hamas attack on October 7th.
“To save cultural heritage of these territories, local communities must be involved, becoming the main protectors of their own heritage. This is part of our job and we continuously do it with schools, boys, children and teenagers“.
Water, food, and blanket distribution
We are coordinating with local partners in Gaza for the distribution of essential goods and medicines. The needs are immense as the Strip is lacking everything.
Support for the most vulnerable groups
We aim to increase support activities for the most vulnerable through existing facilities and provide economic assistance to families in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Healthcare and psycholog cal assistance
We want to increase healthcare assistance and provide economic support for the purchase of medicines. Additionally, there is an immense need for psychological support due to the situation.
Testimonials
Video testimonies from the Holy Land:
“The war causes a sense of fear among the population, especially among children, who are under strong psychological pressure. These children have the right to play, move and be happy like all the children in the world.”
Shady Al-Shaer, coordinator of the “Soccer training course” project for teenagers in Sebastia
“I wondered why the Lord asked me not to be with my community at this time. I realized that providentially I stayed out in such a way as to help a lot of people, trying to get a lot of help and protecting the people there.”
Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Gaza
Letters and appeals
“It’s time to stop this war, this senseless violence” Letter from Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa to the diocese
“To have the courage of love and peace here, today, means not to allow hatred, revenge, anger and pain to occupy all the space of our hearts, of our speeches, of our thinking.”
“You are not alone, the whole community of the Holy Land and of the world is with you” – Greeting of Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa to the Christians of Gaza
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Next to the weakest
For years, Associazione Pro Terra Sancta has been carrying out numerous projects to assist the weakest sections of the population in Israel and Palestine. In Gaza we carry out assistance activities to the small Christian community and support the care for butterfly children, suffering from epidermolysis bullosa.
