This story at a glance…

1. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is near.

2. Palestinians in Gaza feel abandoned as their war rages on.

3. Gazans fear Israel will now intensify its assault on them.

4. Over 44,000 lives in Gaza have been lost, with no end in sight.

Ceasefire in Lebanon, Silence in Gaza

After months of intense fighting, the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon offers a glimmer of hope in a region beset by conflict. Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib announced optimism that an agreement could be finalized by Tuesday night. Such a deal would bring an end to escalating airstrikes, rocket attacks, and ground operations that have plagued southern Lebanon and northern Israel for weeks.

For Lebanon, a ceasefire could mean relief from the immediate horrors of war. But for Gaza, where conflict has raged for over 14 months, this development feels like another chapter of neglect from the international community.

Gazans Speak Out: "We Are Orphans"
In Gaza, many Palestinians feel overlooked as diplomacy focuses on Lebanon. "It showed Gaza is an orphan, with no support and no mercy from the unjust world," Abdel-Ghani, a father of five, told Reuters. With more than 44,000 lives lost in Gaza and devastation across the strip, the ongoing violence has left many feeling abandoned by those in power.

When Hezbollah entered the conflict in solidarity with Hamas, many Palestinians hoped that their intervention would push Israel toward a broader ceasefire. But with reports suggesting Hezbollah has agreed to a truce without linking it to Gaza, that hope has been dashed. "We had high hopes that Hezbollah would remain steadfast until the end," said Tamer Al-Burai, a businessman displaced from his home in Gaza City. "We are afraid the Israeli army will now have a free hand in Gaza."

The Toll of Unrelenting Violence
For the people of Gaza, the daily toll of war is overwhelming. Families live in constant fear, with bombings destroying homes, food shortages worsening, and lives cut short. Zakeya Rezik, a mother of six, summed up the collective exhaustion: "Enough is enough. We are exhausted. How many more have to die before they stop the war? Gaza war must stop. The people are being wiped out, starved, and bombed every day."

While the world turns its attention to Lebanon, many in Gaza feel their suffering has been sidelined, leaving them to endure one of the most brutal conflicts in recent history alone.

Reflection
The anguish of those suffering in Gaza calls us to prayer and action. While political solutions often seem distant and imperfect, our faith teaches us to remain steadfast in hope and compassion.Psalm 34:18 reminds us: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Let this be a call to draw closer to God and to advocate for peace with justice, remembering that every person caught in conflict is made in the image of God.