The Charles Péguy Chair at the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV) —whose main objective is the study, analysis, and dissemination of culture from a critical perspective, following the example of this French poet and philosopher—organized two distinct activities this week. The more historical and cultural aspect included a meeting in which students reflected on the war in Gaza. During the latter, they held a live conversation with the Secretary General of Caritas in Jerusalem, Anton Asfar, who stated that “there is no ceasefire in Gaza; the bombing continues.”

“Last weekend, an acquaintance of mine and a relative of his, who refused to leave Gaza City, went out to look for food and firewood and disappeared. Their families have no news of them. The situation is terrible; there is no food there, no clean water. Right now, Gaza is a ghost town,” he said.

At a medical center that Caritas has set up in the Gaza Strip, “they currently have 300 patients admitted with injuries caused by the bombing,” and they have already treated “thousands of people.” But Asfar says it is currently impossible to bring aid to the Gazans: “They no longer have medical supplies, and in the south, where Israel was supposed to avoid bombing, attacks continue. Furthermore, the conflict in the West Bank and Jerusalem is escalating, there is serious unemployment and a shortage of resources.”

During the event held at the Trinitarios headquarters, the students were questioned by the host, journalist Fernando de Haro, director of La Mañana Fin de Semana on the COPE network. For nearly two hours, the students reflected and expressed different points of view on the current war between Israel and Gaza, on the history and personal experiences of innocent civilians on both sides of the conflict, as well as the history of this conflict since the beginning of the 20th century.

De Haro has also chronicled his experience as a journalist in various media outlets, especially on television and radio. His passion for denouncing injustice and highlighting, among other topics of interest, the persecution of Christians around the world has led him to work frequently in the Holy Land, both in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In this sense, De Haro is a globetrotting reporter and has made documentaries in many countries, from Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt to Nicaragua and Mexico.

Charles Péguy Chair of Studies at UCV 

The Charles Péguy Chair of Studies at the UCV is inspired by the French philosopher, poet, and essayist who gives it its name, “one of the finest analysts of early 20th-century modernity,” explains the chair itself. Created this year, it is structured around several research areas, one of the main ones being the study of the cultural and philosophical roots that inform cultural expressions and their impact on society.

The various formal expressions of culture, broadly understood, and the analysis of cultural creators or protagonists are other areas of research interest for the Charles Péguy Chair at UCV. The same applies to reflection on postmodernism and its various cultural expressions—including the diverse forms and ideas currently in use—the relationship between faith and culture throughout history and today, and the understanding and dissemination of the figure of the French author.