A Ceasefire Continues in Gaza with Israeli Hostages being Released in Hopes for a Lasting Truce as Demonstrations around the World Continue for an End to the War



In answer to prayers Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry said on November 27th that an agreement has been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce for another two days. The announcement was made by a ministry’s spokesperson on X. This was supposed to be the final day of a four-day cease-fire in which some of the hostages abducted by Hamas in October have been released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Despite the ceasefire over 100 Palestinians were reported killed in Gaza. More than 15,000 Palestinians, including over 6,000 children, have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at 1,200. Thousands, in Gaza, are still under the rubble of the bombed buildings.
The Hamas group agreed with Qatar and Egypt to extend the cease-fire “under the same conditions reached before,” CNN reported. According to the agreement, at least 50 Israeli hostages — civilian women and children under age 19 — among the about 240 kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th — were being released in groups over four days during a pause in the fighting. The release of every additional 10 hostages will result in one other day in the pause. The White House confirmed an agreement was reached.
As the war in Gaza neared its 50th day, the destruction in the area is “simply unimaginable,” said Latin Patriarchate CEO Sami El-Yousef in a letter of reflection published on the website of the Latin Patriarchate Nov. 20.
He noted that as of his writing, the United Nations had said over 11,000 Palestinians had been killed, including over 5,000 children, by Israel's retaliatory strikes following the October 7th attack, and some 1.6 million people — almost 70% of the Gaza population — have been displaced.
“Gazans are on the brink of starvation, dehydration, and disease outbreaks given the thousands of bodies rotting under the rubble; the start of the winter season; and the lack of any hygiene with 700 people sharing a shower and 500 people sharing a toilet,” he wrote.
Pope Francis has asked repeatedly for continued prayers for an end to this war.
Millions of people have been demonstrating around the world for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In the exchange, besides releasing at least 150 Palestinians, Israel also has allowed some fuel, medicine and other humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
On the evening of Nov. 27, local time, the Israeli military said 11 hostages were released and were being transported by the Red Cross in Gaza. Later, the Israel Defense Forces released a statement saying that the hostages were in Israeli territory and that after they get a medical assessment, they will be reunited with their families. This was the fourth exchange of the original truce, which started Nov. 24. Earlier on Nov. 27, the families of this group were notified that their loved ones were expected to be released but there were conflicting reports about the status of the list of hostages during the day.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., led to the start of the hostage-Palestinian exchange. Since November 24th — the first day of the truce — 69 hostages, mostly women and children, have been released. So far, 117 prisoners — women and children but also teenagers, according to media reports — have been released from Israeli prisons. Hamas received a list of Palestinian prisoners set to be released in exchange for the November 27th group. Israel will release 33 Palestinian prisoners later Monday, the Associated Press reported.

The first hostage group, released late afternoon Nov. 24, included 13 Israeli civilians — four children, three mothers and six other women — as well as, foreign nationals; 10 Thai and one Filipino. Their release was followed by the first group of 39 Palestinians freed by the Israelis.

On the second day of the hostage-Palestinian exchange Nov. 25, Hamas released 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals — and later that night Israel released 39 Palestinians to the militant group. The freed Israelis were eight children and five women.

On the third day, the freed hostages ranged in age from 4 to 84 and included nine children, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. One of the released hostages is an Israeli-American child, Abigail Edan, who turned 4 in captivity. Her mother and father died on the Oct. 7  attack on Israel. Abigail has two siblings who survived the attack by hiding in a closet.

During the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, 1,200 Israelis were killed, 240 people were taken hostage. 

El-Yousef said the internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza were without a proper mechanism to care for their basic needs and most hospitals are not functioning because of the lack of electricity, fuel and medicines.

After the recitation of the Angelus, which he led from his residence’s chapel due to a lung inflammation, Pope Francis gave thanks for the temporary truce and the release of some of the hostages in Gaza. “Let us pray that all of them will be (released) as soon as possible — think about their families! — and that more humanitarian aid enters Gaza,” he said.

In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said that freeing hostages is the “first step” toward ending the war between Israel and Hamas.

“The fact that an agreement has been reached on the release of at least some of the hostages is positive, because so far the only channel of communication has been military,” the cardinal said. “It is clear that politics must take control of the situation, offering perspectives above all, because the military has none. It is clear, therefore, that negotiations and the release of hostages are the first steps to then start paths of political perspectives for Gaza after this war. This is what is needed.”


The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Nov. 24 that “137 trucks of goods were offloaded” at a reception point in Gaza operated by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees. “Humanitarian teams from the U.N. and partners will continue to ramp up humanitarian operations to meet the needs of people throughout Gaza in the coming days,” the OCHA statement said.

The agreement between Israel and Hamas, originally scheduled to take place Nov. 23, was postponed for a day because Hamas had not yet presented a list of prisoners to be released.

According to the agreement at least 50 Israeli hostages — civilian women and children under age 19 — among the about 240 kidnapped by Hamas in their Oct. 7  attack on Israel will be released in batches over four days, during which there will be a pause in the fighting. The release of every additional 10 hostages will result in one additional day in the pause.

In the exchange, Israel also will allow fuel, medicine and other humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and will release at least 150 Palestinians — also women and children. The list includes teenagers detained over the past year for rock-throwing and other minor offenses, but also those held in Israeli prisons convicted of murder attempts against Israelis.

On Nov. 22, the pope met with families of Israeli hostages, and later with the families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. 
As the war in Gaza neared its 50th day, the destruction in the enclave is “simply unimaginable,” said Latin Patriarchate CEO Sami El-Yousef in a letter of reflection published on the website of the Latin Patriarchate Nov. 20. He noted that as of its writing the U.N. had said over 11,000 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli retaliatory strikes as it vowed to destroy Hamas infrastructure following the Hamas attack, and some 1.6 million people — almost 70% of the Gaza population — have been displaced.

El-Yousef said the internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza were without a proper mechanism to care for their basic needs and most hospitals are not functioning because of the lack of electricity, fuel and medicines.
He said some 600 people had taken refuge inside the Holy Family Parish complex located in northern Gaza, although Israel has asked that all Palestinians evacuate to the south.

“That is a huge responsibility to provide for their daily needs at a time of war and at a time when no new supplies are coming to the north,” he said.

The Christian community in Gaza has lost 21 people so far — over 2% of the Christian population.
El-Yousef said all Christian families in Gaza have been affected by the war, with a nuns' school and the homes of over 50 families from the community have been destroyed.
He emphasized that the “Christian message of forgiveness, coexistence, tolerance, love, and peace does not change during times of war.”
“It is critical that this message continues to guide our society so that some tracks can be found to move forward to reach justice and peace for all who call the Holy Land home,” he said. “Humanity must return and all children of God regardless of their religion or nationality should be treated equally with dignity.”
PLEASE PRAY for PEACE

Edited from Vatican News - OSV News by Judith Sudilovsky in Jerusalem 
with information from the Guardian


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