Middle East

Bethlehem rejoiced with the festive celebration of lighting of a 20-metre Christmas tree at the edge of Manger Square Dec. 6 for the first time since December 2022 and the start of Israel-Hamas war 10 months later.

President Donald Trump's ceasefire agreement in Gaza was tested Oct. 28 as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to conduct strikes in Gaza as his government alleged Hamas violated a White House-backed ceasefire agreement.

At first, Grace Rofa, 20, a Catholic Palestinian from Jerusalem, and Reign Arpon, 19, a Filipino member of the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community in Tel Aviv, were unsure what the Oct. 18 "Be Happy Youth Festival" would be like.

Explore the newest peace deal in the Middle East, the Pope's first exhortation Dilexi Te, and the Blue Jays' spiritual battle.

Patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem said in a joint Oct. 14 statement they "rejoice at the recent enactment of the ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of those held captive," which they hailed as "auspicious moment," noting "the work of peacebuilding has only just begun."

Historic momentum is felt across the Middle East as tens of thousands of Palestinians started to make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza Strip.

President Donald Trump said during a meeting in Egypt on Oct. 13 that "phase two has started" of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas in response to a question from a reporter about when the next stage of negotiations would begin.

Scenes of joy, relief and tearful welcomes flooded media across the world Oct. 13 as the remaining Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem welcomed "with joy" the announcement of an initial agreement between Hamas and Israel in an Oct. 9 statement, but also stressed the "absolute urgency" for the "immediate" and "unconditional" entry of humanitarian relief and sufficient aid into Gaza.

Register staff explore the breaking news of a potential ceasefire in Gaza, Conlon’s latest column on the Nobel Peace Prize, and Amundson unpacks Canada’s plummeting fertility rates and the contradiction of federal policies funding abortion and MAiD while chasing population growth.