![\"Man,](\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/20251016T1018-HOLY-LAND-PATRIARCHS-STATEMENT-TRUCE-18062201-1024x708.jpg\")
Easing some of the biggest tensions, Israel received the remains of two more hostages 15 October, hours after the Israeli military said one of the bodies previously turned over was not that of a hostage, The Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the deal, four bodies of hostages were handed over by Hamas on 14 October, following four the previous day. Israel has been awaiting the return of the bodies of 28 hostages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gaza Health Ministry said 90 bodies were returned to Gaza for burial. A forensics team that examined the remains said they showed signs of mistreatment, AP reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The patriarchs said that \u201cour region as a whole has suffered long enough\u201d and now \u201cis clearly the time to embark upon the very long pathway of healing and reconciliation that is so profoundly needed between Palestinians and Israelis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The church leaders praised the \u201cimpressive global mobilization\u201d with the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit that \u201cwill soon materialize into a wide-scale humanitarian operation\u201d for Palestinians in Gaza who \u201ccontinue to suffer displacement, death, injuries, hunger and loss of livelihood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They said \u201cfood, clean water, fuel and medical supplies\u201d are urgently needed, along with \u201ctemporary shelters and medical facilities,\u201d before \u201cthe massive clearing and rebuilding of destroyed homes, businesses and civilian infrastructure\u201d starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The patriarchs and heads of churches also expressed their concern for continuous violence in the West Bank \u201cin connection with settlement expansions there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe therefore appeal to the concerned parties and the international community as a whole to widen the scope of the current negotiations to include an end of the occupation of both the West Bank and Gaza, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with the present State of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly in this way,\u201d the patriarchs said, \u201cwill a just and lasting peace be truly established in the Holy Land and throughout the larger Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The patriarchs extended their words of encouragement to Christian communities in Gaza \u2014 Holy Family Catholic Parish, St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church, and those serving at Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour perseverance in faith amidst the immeasurable hardships of the past two years has served as a shining example for us all,\u201d assuring prayers and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They asked that God shepherd the region \u201ctoward that golden age of peace so long envisioned by the prophets and sages of old\u201d and for which \u201cour Lord Jesus Christ himself gave up his own life, rising to new life beyond the grave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The patriarchs welcomed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of the Israeli hostages and called for the establishment of a Palestinian state. They also expressed concern about violence in the West Bank associated with Israeli settlers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70080,"featured_media":16814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3084,3083,3056,3081,69],"class_list":["post-16813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-responding-to-human-needs","category-advocating-for-justice-peace","category-palestine","category-israel","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/cnewa.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/20251016T1018-HOLY-LAND-PATRIARCHS-STATEMENT-TRUCE-18062261-1024x683.jpg\")