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Peace at Last… Now the Aid Must Flow

10 October 2025

Gaza

After two years of brutal bloodshed and suffering, people across the Holy Land are today jubilant at the prospect of peace.

We pray that this ceasefire will hold, and that it can be the first step on the long journey towards a just and lasting peace — one where all people can have their rights fulfilled in freedom, peace and security. 

Across the region, there is huge relief. After years of fear, pain and heartache, people are clinging to this fragile moment with a desperate hope. Many have been pummelled into submission by the violence, yet the news has brought a wave of joy and disbelief. 

Families in Israel and Palestine are preparing to be reunited with loved ones; those held hostage and arbitrarily detained can once again know freedom, and start to rebuild their lives with their families. 

Our colleague Mr. Anton Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, shared this update on the morning that the ceasefire was confirmed: 

“This morning we woke up to the news of the agreement ending the war and releasing prisoners, detainees, and abductees from both sides. All our colleagues in Gaza are overjoyed with the news, and they are very keen on helping all those afflicted by the war — the patients, the casualties, and the grief-stricken in Gaza. In the coming phase, we are looking forward to rebuilding people’s souls in the Holy Land, and specifically in Gaza.” 

Despite being caught up in this brutal war themselves, struggling each day to feed their own families, our partners’ first thought is how now they will be able to get back to their day jobs, helping others in need. This spirit is what can give us all hope, that the future can be bright again for the people caught up in this bloody violence, and that together they can piece back together their lives. 

We join Cardinal Pizzaballa of Jerusalem in welcoming this announcement with gratitude and hope. Together with him, we reaffirm SCIAF’s commitment — and that of the global Caritas family — to stand by the people of Gaza on their journey of healing, recovery and rebuilding. 

We invite all those who can to support our Holy Land Crisis appeal. And we call on those in power to do all they can to ensure this ceasefire holds, that aid can flow freely, and that real efforts are made to achieve a genuine and lasting peace in the Holy Land — where all can live with justice, dignity and security.