Gaza’s Suffering Comparable to Nagasaki, Says Jerusalem Bishop

The devastation in Gaza is so vast that it can be compared to the destruction of Nagasaki in 1945, according to Bishop William Hanna Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine.

“For the people living there, the situation is apocalyptic, it feels like the end of their world,” Bishop Shomali said in an interview with Radio Veritas Asia. “Just a few days ago, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, where about 74,000 people were killed. Gaza is not far from Nagasaki, not only in terms of the number of victims, but also in the long-term impact on the people, the sea, and the land.”

Since October 7, 2023, the war has claimed nearly 60,000 lives, including thousands of children, with widespread malnutrition affecting the most vulnerable. Schools and universities have been closed for almost two years, depriving an entire generation of education and stability. Hospitals are barely functioning, with shortages of fuel, electricity, and medical supplies. Many displaced families now live in tents, facing insecurity and uncertainty every day.

“In this dire context, the Church continues to do what it can. We offer spiritual support, humanitarian aid where possible, and a constant presence of prayer and solidarity. Our institutions provide food parcels, medical assistance, and pastoral care, but the needs far exceed our capacity,” Bishop Shomali told RVA.

As Patriarchal Vicar, Bishop Shomali is responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics across Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.  His ministry is marked by logistical and political challenges. Even with a special visa allowing him to live and work in Jerusalem, travel remains unpredictable. “Just yesterday, a return trip from Bethlehem took me two hours instead of thirty minutes because of checkpoint closures,” he said.

He urged the world not to turn away from Gaza’s plight. “Peace is not only a political goal, it is a moral imperative,” he stressed, calling on the international community to support humanitarian aid and structural solutions.

Shomali reaffirmed his support for the two-state solution as the only viable path to a just and lasting peace. “There is room for everyone in this Holy Land, Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike,” he said, envisioning Jerusalem as a shared city open to three religions and two peoples.

Even in the face of devastation, he insists on hope. “History shows that peace can emerge unexpectedly,” he said. “We trust that God hears our prayers.”