Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities that left 1,200 dead and over 250 kidnapped, Lo'ay Ayyad, 48, a father of two and a successful veteran tour guide in the region, has been largely unemployed as the tourism industry
In the aftermath of "horrifying events" and their "cruel context," Christian leaders condemned the attack "against innocent civilians" in a March 1 statement and called "for the warring parties to reach an immediate and lengthy ceasefire that allows for the speedy disbursement
Since her 23-year-old son Hersh had his left arm blown off at the elbow and was taken hostage into Gaza by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, Rachel Goldberg-Polin has gone from the self-described "Jane Doe" anonymity of Jewish woman, to becoming the
As war ravages the Holy Land, we visit Christians in Bethlehem -- emptied from tourists -- to listen to their stories of desperation and hope for the new year.
The world has become very small and dangerous for the 600 Palestinian Gaza Christians sheltering at the Holy Family Parish church compound in Gaza City almost since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war Oct. 7.
OSV News approached the young people of the
Following a series of attacks on Christians in Gaza by Israeli forces Dec. 16, including the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic parish, the Israeli Defense Forces rebuked claims that it targeted civilians in the Catholic parish.
"It is very difficult and the parish is suffering very much," said Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish, in an interview with Vatican News Dec. 6. He said there is little water, gas, food, medicine or diesel fuel needed to
The Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, located just 1,500 steps from the birthplace of Christ, is confronting significant challenges amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip 45 miles away.
Qatar's foreign affairs ministry said Nov. 27 that an agreement has been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce for another two days. The announcement was made by a ministry's spokesperson on X on the final day of a four-day cease-fire in which
JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- Following long days of delicate and intense negotiations between Israel and Hamas with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., the first group of hostages held by Hamas has been freed. Twenty-four hostages -- 13 Israeli civilians,