Bishops call for ceasefire

America’s bishops have reiterated Pope Francis’ call for a ceasefire and peace between Israel and Hamas.

In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, said that the United States should seek an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, provide humanitarian relief to the vulnerable people of Gaza, and return to the challenge of pursuing a just and lasting peace.

Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, wrote, “Israelis should not have to live in fear of Hamas’ indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilian areas. At the same time, Palestinians should not have to live in fear for their lives from air and ground attacks or to suffer the humiliations of occupation.”

He noted that Catholic Relief Services has had to suspend it relief efforts in Gaza because of the fighting.

The full text of the letter is here

More information on the U.S. bishops’ advocacy on Israeli-Palestinian peace is available here..