Scottish Catholic Observer

Palestinians have begun to return to their homes in Gaza after an open-ended truce with Israel was agreed yesterday.

Celebrations carried on after dark in Gaza City last night, as people poured into the streets when the truce was announced. Today, fishing boats have ventured out to sea as restrictions were eased. The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, brings to an end 50 days of fighting in which more than 2200 people have been killed, most of them Palestinians.

Hamas, the Islamic movement that rules Gaza, said the agreement with Israel represented a ‘victory for the resistance’ but an Israeli government official criticised Hamas, saying almost identical terms were available almost a month ago.

Although there seems little prospect of a lasting settlement in the current conflict, which also impacts Christians in Gaza, last week Pope Francis said on his flight back from Korea that he believed the door to peace was still open in the Holy Land.

“The smoke of the bombs of the wars don’t allow us to see the door, but the door is still open,” the Holy Father said. “As I believe in God, I believe that God is watching that door and all who pray and ask that he help us.”

—[email protected]

Pic: Palestinians celebrate after an open-ended ceasefire was declared in Gaza