Ashdod, Israel: Suhail Abo Dawood, a young Catholic student and columnist for the Vatican’s L'Osservatore Romano, is recovering from serious injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike that hit the Holy Family parish in Gaza. Despite enduring grave wounds and undergoing emergency treatment in Ashdod, Israel, Suhail’s message remains unwaveringly clear: “Love is stronger than war.”
Speaking to Vatican media from his hospital bed, Suhail offered a warm smile despite visible signs of pain. His mother, Randa, had been informed of the visit in advance by Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest in Gaza, who has remained close to the family throughout the conflict. "We always used to say we’d meet again either in Rome or in Gaza once peace came. But I never imagined our reunion would happen in a hospital in Ashdod," Suhail said with bittersweet emotion.
The attack on Thursday morning left Suhail severely wounded, with shrapnel injuries that affected internal organs. Due to the collapsing healthcare infrastructure inside Gaza, he was urgently transferred across the border into Israel for life-saving surgery. Since then, his condition has stabilized, and he is now on the path to recovery.
Despite the trauma, Suhail radiates resilience and spiritual conviction. He reflects not only on his suffering but also on his mission. "Peace will return to Gaza. As I wrote in my last piece love is more powerful than war," he affirms. During the conversation, he shares his aspirations, future writing plans, and most importantly, his evolving journey of faith and spiritual discernment.
Parts of his reflections will be featured in Monday's edition of L'Osservatore Romano, continuing his witness as a voice of hope amid the ravages of conflict. Suhail’s story serves as a powerful testament to the enduring strength of faith and the belief that compassion can outshine the shadows of violence.