Israel and Hamas. Father Patton (Custos of the Holy Land): “People’s lives are permeated with fear. We need to build trust for the next generations”

Hamas attacked Israel exactly one year ago, on October 7, 2023. Thousands of members of Palestinian terrorist groups from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israeli territory by land, sea and air, killing 1,200 Jews, including civilians and soldiers, in horrific fashion men and women were slaughtered. , children and the elderly living in kibbutzim and towns near the border, including Sderot.

That same day, 250 people were taken hostage; 101 of them (as of September 26, 2024, ed.’s comment), representing no fewer than 21 nationalities, continue to be held by Hamas. The State of Israel was in for a rude awakening: in the space of a few hours, its long-cherished security myth was shattered. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has so far claimed more than 41,500 Palestinian lives, left more than 96,000 injured and caused the destruction of entire neighborhoods, including roads, schools, hospitals and various infrastructure. The entire population of Gaza, internally displaced, is facing a full-blown humanitarian and health crisis. Negotiations between the US, Qatar and Egypt on a ceasefire and the release of hostages have so far proved inconclusive. At the one-year commemoration on October 7, SIR interviewed the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton.

What has changed in Israel since October 7?

The way of life and the way of living together underwent a radical transformation. Before October 7, there was a balance – albeit delicate – of coexistence, with a positive and open attitude towards the Palestinian world in certain sectors of Israeli civil society, and vice versa. What happened on October 7 turned back time to the period leading up to 1948, the year of the founding of the State of Israel, but with a proliferation of hatred, anger, fear, polarization and even a refusal to reason in today’s culture and public discourse. There is a clear refusal to consider the future impact of current actions.

Is it even possible to put the “pieces” back together in a society like Israel’s, traumatized by the events of October 7?

It must be said that Israel is home to a very diverse population, both religious and non-religious. There are some religious parties that politically support the government. Others less so. There are clergy with whom we can engage in fruitful dialogue, and others with whom this is not possible. Then there are the colonists, who are religiously and politically fundamentalist and cause a short circuit that results in a new form of nationalistic messianic fundamentalism. It must also be said that the ultra-Orthodox, also known as haredimshould not be confused with the settlers, who hold different positions vis-à-vis the Israeli government. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, there are secular groups within Israeli society that are more open to dialogue with both Palestinians and ethnic Arab Israelis. In my humble opinion, any attempt to piece together the shattered fragments of this society requires a major change in mentality, which presupposes an openness to the other side and a belief that it is possible to establish mutual trust, dialogue, coexistence and acceptance to take.

How can we strengthen this cultural transformation?

“Change comes from recognizing each other’s suffering,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh, one of the hostages killed by Hamas while held in Gaza. Israelis and Palestinians must understand each other’s suffering, which means recognizing each other’s right to exist and their dignity.

The obstacle is of a cultural, psychological and, to some extent, religious nature, which, if not overcome, will ultimately hinder, if not prevent, coexistence. It is up to the political and religious leaders of the two peoples to promote the overcoming of this obstacle. Unfortunately, at this point, the desire to eliminate the other seems to be the only overriding desire on both sides.

What happened on October 7, 2023 shattered the myth of Israel’s security…

Even before that there was fear and uncertainty. The large red billboards warning Israelis not to enter the Palestinian territories for security reasons, placed at military checkpoints, are proof enough. It shows that relations with the Palestinians have always been characterized by mistrust and fear. I would rather call it a “fake sense of security,” exacerbated by the wall separating Israel from the West Bank and Gaza, and by the belief that Hezbollah could be monitored by the army on the border with Lebanon. In my opinion, the concept of fear is part of the collective unconscious of the Jewish people, and has historical roots. The change mentioned above, clearly outlined by Rachel Goldberg-Polin and the relatives of other hostages held by Hamas, should also include this aspect. Unfortunately, I have the impression that at the moment a large part of Israelis support the government’s military operation, perhaps also out of a desire for revenge and deterrence, based on fear of the enemy, in the hope that this will be enough to . In reality, however, this only serves to fuel the anger that will inevitably erupt into violence sooner or later. Just look at what’s happening in Gaza. A fear-driven peace amounts to no peace at all.

How widespread is fear among the two peoples in the current circumstances?

There is a widespread sense of fear among Jews, Muslims and Christians. The latter experience feelings of frustration, helplessness and vulnerability in the face of the many challenges posed by the war, including unemployment and the rise of mafia-like organized crime within the Arab community, which is inadequately addressed by the Israeli police and security services . forces. An atmosphere of fear pervades Gaza, the West Bank, northern Israel and Lebanon. In Lebanon, the Brothers of the Custody are concerned that they may be targeted by the Israeli army for their work in providing shelter to displaced Lebanese who have lost their homes and belongings. People’s lives are permeated with widespread fear. I would like to make one more comment.

Please do…

Now that the conflict along the border with Lebanon has intensified, Gaza is no longer in the news. The conflict and its enormous human toll – death, destruction and hatred – have disappeared from the headlines. A similar phenomenon is occurring in the West Bank, where Israeli military attacks continue. This phenomenon is characteristic of today’s news media: today we focus on Lebanon, tomorrow we will see. The news is also subject to the logic of sensationalism, and public opinion follows the news not to be informed, but as spectators once saw gladiators killing each other in the Colosseum. The result is the degradation of humanity.

How do you assess the international community’s efforts over the past year to find a solution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza?

The international community appears powerless in its efforts to pressure the warring parties to cease military action and reach a negotiated solution. Western and Arab countries also show their own inability. In fact, they continue to fuel and finance the conflict. Unless the flow of money is cut off and the supply of weapons is stopped – as Pope Francis has said so many times without heeding it – it is very unlikely that the conflict will end. In my opinion, the international community has shown its powerlessness and lack of sincerity and determination.

What do you think of the contribution of religious beliefs? Let us not forget that the Holy Land is the cradle of the three great Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Religions have not proven to be very helpful, especially when it comes to their ability to successfully bring about a cultural transformation in society. The religious leaders must stop justifying the religious use of violence. There needs to be a serious reinterpretation of the violence embedded in the sacred writings of Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the light of the compassion that is the central and common denominator of the religious message of the Old and New Testaments and that of the Quran. If we do not do this, the sacred texts will continue to be used to justify acts of violence, as is happening today.

How can this dangerous course be reversed?

The way forward could be a new, multilateral Abu Dhabi document. It would not be signed by a Catholic pope and a Sunni imam, but by the main Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders. Ultimately, however, this text should serve as an educational and catechetical tool to reach believers from all walks of life. Currently, Pope Francis is the only leader who can initiate this process. As Christians we must and must work hard to promote mutual trust, coexistence, dialogue and acceptance. These are small but very important prophetic signs. There is a saying in the Middle East that people who plant strawberries think of the next season and people who plant dates think of the next generation: we must worry about the next generation and commit to a long-term journey of sowing and cultivating a culture. of mutual trust, reconciliation and coexistence if we want the next generation to reap the benefits of peace.