AN Irish journalist currently on a pilgrimage to Israel has spoken of the tensions on the ground as fighting in the region intensifies.
Michael Kelly is the editor of the Dublin-based Irish Catholic newspaper and spoke to the Irish News from Nazareth in northern Israel.
Having first travelled to Bethlehem and Jerusalem, he said people on all sides told them they were horrified by the loss of life and uncertainty.
“The situation is the worst I’ve ever experienced it in coming here 20 years,” he said.
“The attack on Saturday (as Hamas fighters in the Gaza strip launched thousands of rockets into Israel) was so unexpected.
“Everyone here woke up with everything being fine, then within three hours they found themselves within a war zone.
“It’s obviously very concerning for everyone.”
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After reassuring people back home that everyone in the party was safe, it was decided to continue on with the pilgrimage towards Nazareth.
The group will also visit other religious sites including Cana, known in the Bible as the site of the wedding feast attended by Jesus, Mount Tabor and the Sea of Galilee.
Our pilgrims are safe here in Jerusalem - please pray for peace. pic.twitter.com/EegjCNL8bz
— Michael Kelly ن (@MichaelKellyIC) October 7, 2023
“The first a lot of our pilgrims actually heard there was any trouble was when they got distant phone calls from relatives at home,” he said.
“In some ways it’s more anxious for them. We’re conscious that we’re about 150 miles from where everything is taking place.
“Another thing is that many people on the pilgrimage grew up in the north during the Troubles. They also have that sense that although terrible things were happening you were far away enough from it.
“I think that has reassured a lot of people."
On the reactions from locals, he said: “I would say the first reaction of people is one of utter shock. People here are used to occasional skirmishes, rocket incursions, clashes between Hamas and the Israeli defence forces.
“But that’s nothing compared to the sheer scale and extent of things. People here now are very anxious about what will come if this becomes a full-scale war.”
Talking to Palestinians in Bethlehem, he said they were struggling to process the “ferocity” of the attacks.
“They are anxious about what lies ahead and whether or not the international community will intervene.
“On another side of it there’s also many Christians working here in the tourism industry, so they’re concerned about their livelihoods and how people will be deterred from coming.”
Another group of Irish visitors were due to join up with Mr Kelly on Sunday night but have since cancelled.
“We decided that wouldn’t go ahead which is hugely disappointing because a trip to the Holy Land in many ways is a trip of a lifetime.
“There was also a strong feeling among the pilgrims here that they wanted to continue.”
With competing statements on the conflict from politicians in Northern Ireland and beyond, he said people should be careful of their words when real lives were being lost.
“I think the last thing that the Holy Land needs is well-meaning outsiders trying to transplant their own issues or ideologies onto the conflict here,” he said.
“It’s immensely complicated and there’s high emotions around it on all sides. But I have to say that after 20 years in coming here, I feel that in some ways as time goes on I understand the conflict even less.
“I feel there can be a tendency in Ireland to say it is the same as our own conflict of peace process.
“Actually, things are very different and people need to choose their words very carefully.
“Many people have lost their lives already. If this proves to be a war then many other people will as well.
“I’m very much hoping for peace and that’s what our pilgrimage here will become about as well. It’s such an important and beautiful place.
“To see so much conflict and tension is very hard, so people from afar should be very careful about what they say.”
