Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Pierbattista Pizzaballa said the situation in the Holy Land had undergone a "continuous deterioration" since October 7, 2023, amid ongoing conflict and violence.

Addressing reporters at the headquarters of L’Œuvre d’Orient, Pizzaballa, an outspoken opponent of the Israeli occupation and genocidal policies against the Palestinians, said Israeli violence had become the dominant language in political and media discourse.

He warned that the dehumanization of the Palestinian people risked fuelling further bloodshed.

The cardinal said conditions in the Gaza Strip remained dire, with most residents living in tents or among the ruins of destroyed buildings following extensive damage to infrastructure.

Pizzaballa added that reconstruction efforts had yet to begin and that there was no clear indication of how or when rebuilding would start.

Pizzaballa said the Church had maintained a presence in Gaza through its parish and the partially functioning Holy Family School, which continues to serve around 600 students despite the conflict.

He warned that the suffering of Gaza's population was being exacerbated by uncertainty over when the war might end, saying the lack of a clear political horizon was taking a severe psychological toll on families and children.

Turning to the occupied West Bank, Pizzaballa said the expansion of Israeli settlements, settler violence, a perceived lack of accountability and the presence of Israeli military checkpoints were making daily life increasingly difficult for Palestinians.

He also highlighted the situation in the Christian village of Taybeh, saying Church officials receive emergency calls from residents almost every day.

Pizzaballa said the current situation was unsustainable and could not continue indefinitely.

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