(Crux. Charles Collins).
Ireland’s bishops are calling for and to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the release of refugees in a conflict that has lasted around 8 months. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking over 200 more as hostages. Israel then declared war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has so far left an estimated 37,000 people dead. “We renew our call for an immediate cessation to the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza,” the Irish bishops said in a statement released on June 20. “As well as the innocent population affected by this conflict, we are asking people of faith to pray for the safety of staff of humanitarian agencies who, in their life-saving work, must be allowed unhindered access to deliver vital aid into Gaza to prevent further deaths by starvation and malnutrition,” the bishops said.