Interview

Father Zanotelli: 'In Gaza double suicide, by Israel and the West'

For the Combonian missionary, "the tragic thing is that we will have generations of Palestinians deeply wounded by this situation".

26 September 2025

Rovereto. Alex Zanotelli con Huipalas la sciarpetta indigena ecuadoriana simbolo di R-esistenza, Impegno e Convivialità. (Errebi Multimedia / AGF)

3' min read

"We must say thank you to those who had the courage to leave even though they knew they would be threatened, that it would be a challenge they would pay with their bodies". This is how Father Alex Zanotelli comments on the attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla. "What is happening in Gaza, says the missionary, is a double suicide, of Israel and the West, when I think of the children I cry". On Saturday 11 October, the Pope announced yesterday, there will be another prayer for peace at St Peter's.

Padre Zanotelli: il doppio suicidio di Israele e Occidente

How do you comment on the attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla?

First I would say thank you to those who had the courage to leave even though they knew they were threatened and knew it would indeed be a challenge they would pay with their bodies. And this finally does credit to this West that is not moving while a people is being massacred. As for the Israeli government, it is an unscrupulous state, it is ready to do anything to save itself and this is of extreme gravity, at the expense then of a whole other people. In recent days I have kept saying that we are facing a double suicide. The suicide of Israel, but also of the West that proclaims itself Christian, the West of democracy, of human rights, which has not only remained silent, but has been conniving because it is arming Israel to no end. This is the tragedy we are experiencing at the moment.

Father Alex, is war always, the popes repeat, a failure of politics and also of humanity?

Always war is failure because you can always find other ways. We know by now very well what war brings us, that it is indeed death, destruction, this is not the way, it seems we do not want to learn anything from the tragic history we have lived through.

The Pope recalled how the Vatican long ago recognised the State of Palestine, is this the way forward?

Yes, I am convinced it is the way, but with Netanyahu it is a big problem. Now they want to annex not only Gaza but also part of the West Bank. Where are they going to make this blessed state of Palestine? It is impossible, so there really has to be a strong intervention here and unfortunately the United States is blocking everything because they support Israel to the hilt: this is another crime they are committing.

Have you joined the 'Priests Against Genocide' network?

I think it was important that priests took to the streets in Rome, that they walked the streets, demonstrated in front of the seats of power in Rome. Above all, it is important that they took to the streets to pray first of all, this is what we should do at this tragic time because prayer is also important, it has great value.

In Gaza, there is an inhuman situation that primarily involves children: victims, wounded, orphans, children who will not go to school for the third year...

The tragic thing is that we will have generations of Palestinians deeply wounded by this situation, wounded psychologically. I really often these days keep thinking about these children. But how do they, in situations like this, then try to live when they have only seen death? This is really distressing, I have cried so many times because I say: but how is it possible in front of everyone's eyes that this is happening in the year 2000? This is the gravity of the situation.