Fr. Faltas: 'Pope Francis is only leader to call for a ceasefire in Holy Land'
By Robera Cetera
"Let there be a ceasefire. We too, like Father Ibrahim, say ceasefire."
Pope Francis made a direct reference to the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land at the Angelus on Sunday, inviting the faithful from all over the world to join the call for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, a Egyptian-born Franciscan friar, is overcome with emotion.
Not only because he was quoted by the Pope, but also because - as he explained to Vatican News - "only he, only the Holy Father among all the powerful in this world, has used the word 'ceasefire', and said that war is a defeat for all. It is only the Pope who makes these appeals.”
'Nobody listens'
Fr. Faltas had recently spoken on the Italian television programme A Sua Immagine, of which the Pope, as he has mentioned many times, is a frequent viewer.
From the TV screen, Pope Francis was struck by the Vicar's words, which he shared worldwide. "Cease fire," the Pope repeated four times today.
"I want to thank the Holy Father," said Father Ibrahim, speaking from Jerusalem. His gratitude is accompanied by bitterness at seeing that other "powerful people of the earth" have not heeded this cry.
"No one has listened; no one hears the needs of these people of Gaza who are homeless, without food, electricity, water, without anything," said Fr. Faltas.
Dead, injured, houses destroyed in Gaza
"There are children killed, women, people with disabilities. More than 10,000 people have been killed in 24 days. There are so many children, so many women under the destroyed houses in Gaza," he said.
“Nobody knows how to help these people. In Gaza, everything is lacking, including the essential to be able to live. And all these wounded people, more than 20,000 people who cannot receive treatment and be saved. Only him, only the Holy Father is calling for a ceasefire. I hope they listen to him!"
Around 700 people in the Holy Family parish
Meanwhile, as the ground attack in the Gaza Strip intensifies and the humanitarian situation worsens, reports have emerged that some residents have had their internet connection restored.
Father Ibrahim Faltas took the opportunity to contact his brothers and sisters sheltering in the Holy Family parish in Gaza. "Yes, communication is back but it is not stable," he explained. "I did everything I could to speak with Sister Nabila Saleh, the sister of the Holy Rosary, and Father Youssef.”
“They are there with these people who are very sick. There are almost 700 people staying in their parish, sleeping there, eating there, living there," he said.
A hell for everyone
"Just imagine 700 people all in one church, while the whole of Gaza is besieged!" exclaimed Fr. Faltas.
"Two million people live in Gaza, without food, without electricity, without water, medicine, nothing! It is a horrible situation there. But who listens? Who sees these things?"
On Saturday, insisted the Franciscan friar, recalling the demonstrations in the streets, millions of people "asked their rulers to cease fire, to stop this hell. It really is hell! The people of Gaza are living in hell, but we too, throughout the Holy Land, are living an extremely difficult time. It is a hell for everyone.”
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