On Tuesday, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa declared that humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza is not a discretionary measure, but a vital lifeline, “the difference between life and death.”
His statements came during a joint press briefing with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III at Jerusalem’s Notre Dame Center, following their recent pastoral mission to the Gaza Strip.
“Both of us returned from Gaza heartbroken by what we witnessed,” Pizzaballa stated. “Yet we found consolation in the resilience and testimonies of those we met.”
He described scenes of widespread destruction, hunger, and suffering, including among children, and warned that delays in aid delivery amount to a death sentence for civilians.
“Each hour without food, water, shelter, or medicine deepens the humanitarian crisis. We saw people standing under the scorching sun for hours, hoping for a meal to ease their hunger, a scene both degrading and unforgettable,” he said. “This condition cannot be ethically defended or morally tolerated.”
Pizzaballa praised humanitarian workers, Christian, Muslim, secular, and religious, for risking their lives to support Gaza’s population, and called on regional and global leaders to reject policies rooted in displacement, captivity, and retaliation.
“We must choose a path that restores dignity and humanity. It’s time to end the violence and prioritize the public good,” Pizzaballa stated.
Patriarch Theophilos III echoed this urgency, describing Gaza as a wounded territory carved by ongoing pain.
“We walked among the injured, the bereaved, the displaced, and the faithful, people whose dignity remains intact despite overwhelming hardship,” he said.
He affirmed the Church’s mission during crises: to stand with the grieving, defend the sanctity of life, and testify to light amid darkness.
“Our commitment is not rhetorical; it is lived out in action,” Theophilos added, “Silence in the face of suffering is a betrayal of conscience.”
Both leaders condemned the continued bombardment of Gaza as a moral and humanitarian disaster.
Their visit followed the bombing of the Church of the Holy Family, which killed three Palestinians and wounded nine others, including its priest.
Despite mounting international warnings about impending famine, Israeli authorities, who maintain control over Gaza’s access points, have kept the crossings sealed to humanitarian and medical aid since March 2.
Observers say this represents an intensification of the starvation policy employed since the beginning of the war in October 2023.
According to updated figures, the war has resulted in more than 201,000 dead and wounded, predominantly women and children, alongside over 9,000 missing persons and mass displacement compounded by worsening famine conditions.
