January 22, 2025
News
After 15 months of brutal war between Israel and Hamas, a temporary ceasefire has been announced in Gaza. This brings hope to the families of hostages and much-needed relief to Gaza’s residents. However, it is only the first essential step towards achieving lasting peace and addressing the enormous humanitarian catastrophe that the enclave’s population is facing as a result of the conflict.
The devastating aftermath of the conflict
The relief at finally reaching a temporary halt to the fighting after months of bloodshed is overshadowed by despair over the indescribable destruction and loss. For tens of thousands of civilians killed in this war, the ceasefire has come far too late. The same is true for the hundreds of thousands of Gaza’s residents and hostages who have endured unimaginable suffering over the last 15 months.
The scale of the devastation is staggering. In the Gaza Strip alone, at least 47,000 people, more than half of them women and children, have been killed. According to estimates, another 10,000 to 12,000 victims remain buried under rubble, as desperate relatives search for their loved ones. Around 1.9 million people, nearly the entire population of Gaza, have been displaced. Whole areas have been reduced to rubble, leaving those displaced without homes to return to. Over 90% of all homes are either destroyed or damaged. Infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water systems, lies in ruins. Israel’s blockade has pushed Gaza’s population to the brink of famine.
Rebuilding Gaza will take decades
“Ceasefire in Gaza is not just the end of a bloody and painful period. It is an opportunity to save lives and restore human dignity, which was nearly crushed under the horrors of war. For us, this day marks a new beginning, but we know that the road to lasting peace will be long and challenging,” said Anton Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, which has been helping in Gaza for decades.
The ceasefire provides an opening for the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, drinking water, medicine, and shelter, to begin alleviating the desperate conditions on the ground. However, rebuilding Gaza and the lives of its residents will take decades. According to UN estimates, clearing the 50 million tons of rubble alone will take more than two decades. Reconstruction of the enclave will require rebuilding and repairing infrastructure and restoring essential services, such as healthcare, education, and water supply.
Caritas continues to support Gaza
Caritas remains committed to providing desperately needed assistance to the people of Gaza and engaging in the recovery process. “ in cooperation with our local and international partners, we will continue to work tirelessly in the reconstruction of Gaza. And here, I do not mean only rebuilding buildings but also rebuilding the human beings, preserving their dignity, and giving them the chance to live the life they deserve,” added Asfar.
Despite the destruction of Caritas Jerusalem’s clinic in Gaza in the early days of the war, our local teams continued providing essential aid. They set up multiple health centres, often relocating them to ensure that healthcare services could continue to reach those in need. Caritas also provided psychological and humanitarian support, including food, water, medicines, and shelters.
Caritas Czech Republic also directly contributed to the relief efforts in Gaza. With financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the “Caritas for Gaza” appeal, the organization is helping deliver medical and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s residents.
“In every medical point we established, in every patient we treated, in every family we supported, we carried a clear humanitarian message: humanity first, regardless of religion or affiliation,” explained Asfar.
Caritas calls on the international community to do everything possible to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again and that this ceasefire becomes the start of a truly lasting peace and recovery.
