The Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East has told Prime Time that the Irish government's decision to recognise the state of Palestine is "momentous."
Ireland formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign and independent state earlier on Tuesday and has agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.
Speaking exclusively to Prime Time, Archbishop Hosam Naoum said: "I think to see that happening brings joy to a lot of Palestinians. I would say that it would have been even better if Israel was part of this move."
Archbishop Naoum also spoke about the Anglican church’s involvement in running medical facilities in Gaza. The church operates the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, which has been subject to strikes since the beginning of the war.
"Our hospital is the only hospital that continues to be in operation during the war, and it has been a beacon of hope for many Gazans," Archbishop Naoum told Prime Time.
"We have opened a new clinic in Rafah in order to just, again, stress the point that our presence there is a presence that enables peace and reconciliation and healing in a place that witnessed so much devastation."
Speaking about the war in Gaza, in which 34,000 people have been killed and over 77,000 have been wounded, Archbishop Naoum said he hopes an end is near.
"This is a devastating war, but hopefully it will bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that the two sides with the international community can really come together and say, enough with war, enough with violence."
"Let's imagine the Holy Land for the future and for the sake of generations, where both Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in peace and harmony," Archbishop Naoum added.
"I think what's happening now in Ireland and in many other countries in Europe, this will be a step towards an awakening so that both nations can come and have a grip about how important peace is."
