A CO. WEXFORD priest, who has come face-to-face with victims of the fighting in Gaza, has expressed his disgust at the international community which he says seems unable to prevent the bloodshed occurring in the area.
Fr. Billy Swan, originally from Glynn in Wexford and parish priest in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy is currently in Jerusalem, about 120 miles north-east of Gaza where horrendous fighting and atrocities have taken place in recent weeks, with many of the seriously injured transported to Jerusalem.
Fr. Swan has visited hospitals in Jerusalem and said that he has felt both angry and proud as a result of the experience.
“Today I saw suffering that made me angry: angry because of man’s inhumanity to man, angry because of the innocent who suffer most and angry because the international community does not seem capable of preventing the bloodshed.
“Yet I also feel proud to be a Catholic Christian and united to those who are helping these people who are suffering so much at this time.”
Fr. Swan visited a hospital being run by the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph but he pointed out that so many hospitals have been targeted in the fighting.
“In the tragic conflict that has been taking place in Gaza in recent weeks, hospitals have also been targeted by bombs and missiles. They are no longer safe as places of refuge and care.”
[Full report in this week’s Echo]