Pizzaballa: 'We are happy. Everything is fragile but we need to start'
The Patriarch of Jerusalem comments on the signing of the first phase of Trump's peace agreement. He now hopes to enter Gaza soon
"In Gaza, the wounds are still bleeding and even if there is now a cease-fire, the situation will remain dramatic for a long time. But now we must rejoice in this step, which marks a new beginning that was sorely needed. A few hours have passed since the announcement of the agreement reached when we hear Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem, on the phone, who breathes a first sigh of relief after very difficult months. Pizzaballa chose not to leave Jerusalem in recent weeks as a sign of closeness to the religious men and women left in Gaza, despite repeated orders to evacuate
Eminence what is your state of mind?
We are happy, we needed positive news, we know there will be many obstacles, it is all very fragile, but we must somehow start with gestures that bring back some trust between the Israeli and Palestinian populations.
How much did the international pressure of the last few weeks affect the reaching of this understanding?
International pressure was very influential, especially that of the United States, but not only. This misunderstanding also of the sense, let's call it that, because it is true, of the international community towards what was happening here, especially in Gaza, played a role I think important in pushing both sides to give up something that they considered indispensable and find a form of compromise.
