**In a powerful display of interfaith solidarity, Muslims and Christians gathered Saturday evening at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers to pray for peace in the Middle East, focusing particularly on the ongoing conflict in Gaza .
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Mgr Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, expressed the collective intention behind this gathering, declaring: “Today we wanted to organize a day of fasting and prayer for peace and for an end to the fighting, but with justice in Gaza. It is a day of prayer in solidarity with the entire population of Gaza.”
Around 200 people, including foreign diplomats and representatives of various associations, responded to the call of the Catholic Church of Algeria to gather and pray for peace in the Gaza Strip, where residents are suffering what the Archdiocese of Algiers describes it as an “unbearable tribute”. ” having a fuzz.
Among the participants were the French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet, the Palestinian Ambassador Fisent Mohamed Mahoum Abu Aita, Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco and the president of the Algerian association “Passerelles de la Paix”, Youcef Mecheria.
Ambassador Romatet stressed the importance of the diversity of the community present, encompassing Muslims and Christians, particularly at a time when world peace is threatened, particularly in the Middle East.
“We responded to this call to pray for an end to the conflict in the Middle East, Palestine and Gaza,” » said Mr. Mecheria.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, has resulted in intense violence. Israel, promising to “annihilate” Hamas, subjected the densely populated Gaza Strip to incessant bombardment in response to the Hamas attack.
As a seven-day ceasefire concluded Friday morning, the conflict has resumed with renewed intensity.
