Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See, asserted that Israel has accepted all ceasefire and hostage release proposals put forward by mediators, while Hamas has rejected every one.
Newsroom (23/07/2025, Gaudium Press )In an exclusive interview with Crux, Yaron Sideman, Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See, asserted that Israel has accepted all ceasefire and hostage release proposals put forward by mediators, while Hamas has rejected every one “without exception.” The ambassador’s remarks come in the wake of Pope Leo XIV’s Sunday appeal for an “immediate halt” to the war in Gaza, a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced countless others since its escalation on October 7, 2023.
Sideman expressed support for the Pope’s call to end the violence but placed the blame squarely on Hamas, stating, “Hamas is solely responsible for [the continuation of the war], and it is the sole obstacle to bringing it to an end.” He reiterated Israel’s desire for peace, emphasizing the need for Hamas’s demilitarization and the end of its governance in Gaza—a position that aligns with recent statements by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who called for the State of Palestine to assume full control of Gaza.
The war began after a surprise attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and saw over 250 people taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive, aimed at dismantling Hamas’s leadership, has resulted in over 59,000 deaths in Gaza, according to Palestinian estimates, with the majority being civilians. A fragile peace deal earlier this year collapsed, leading to intensified Israeli military operations.
“I am saddened by the suffering of so many living under constant deprivation and duress, and I pain when innocent people are killed or hurt,” Sideman told Crux. He also highlighted the plight of the 50 remaining hostages, who he said have endured “torture and subhuman conditions” in Hamas’s tunnels for 654 days.
On Israel’s Response to a Church Attack
Addressing a recent Israeli strike on a church, Sideman noted the significance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call to Pope Leo XIV the day after the incident. “It is significant that Israel assumed responsibility and owned up to a mistake it made at the highest possible level,” he said. The ambassador stressed that Israel is investigating the incident to prevent future errors and extended an invitation for the Pope to visit Israel, particularly in light of the 60th anniversary of the Nostra Aetate declaration, which transformed Catholic-Jewish relations.
Responding to Humanitarian Concerns
Sideman also responded to claims by Alistair Dutton, head of Caritas Internationalis, who described Gaza’s conditions as “unbearable” and likened Israel’s actions to “ethnic cleansing” in an interview with Vatican News. Sideman called these accusations “disingenuous,” arguing that Israel has facilitated significant humanitarian aid, with over 4,400 trucks entering Gaza in the past two months alone, alongside 95,000 since the war’s onset. He contrasted Israel’s efforts with Hamas’s strategy, which he claimed uses civilian suffering as a tactic.
“What disturbed me most in Mr. Dutton’s article is the absence of any suggestions for an alternative course of action,” Sideman said, challenging critics to propose viable solutions to remove Hamas’s military and governing power. He drew parallels to Israel’s actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran’s nuclear program, suggesting that neutralizing Hamas would pave the way for a brighter future in Gaza.
The Vatican’s Role in Peace Efforts
Commenting on Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s assertion that Christians serve as a “moderating force” in the Middle East, Sideman urged the Vatican to prioritize advocating for the immediate release of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza. “There is no more urgent and pending matter that requires the Pope’s moral voice and the Holy See’s diplomatic proactiveness,” he said.
Sideman also expressed concern for persecuted Christian communities in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, referencing a recent plea by Father Tony Boutros of the Greek Catholic Church in Sweida. He called on the international community, including the Holy See, to take action to protect minority groups facing violence.
As the Gaza conflict continues with no immediate resolution in sight, Sideman’s remarks underscore the deep divisions and complex challenges facing mediators, with both sides entrenched in their positions. The ambassador’s appeal for decisive action against Hamas reflects Israel’s broader strategy, while his call for Vatican involvement highlights the potential for diplomatic efforts to shift the trajectory of the crisis.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux
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