Pope Francis has addressed the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza, condemning the killings, particularly of children and women. Read full article
He called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to deliver essential supplies like food, water, and fuel to the heavily bombarded Gaza Strip, which faced a significant Israeli assault following a violent attack by Hamas the previous weekend.
Over the past eight days, Israel responded to the attack by Hamas, resulting in more than 2,300 casualties in Gaza, including significant civilian casualties. Conditions in Gaza hospitals had become critical, leading health workers to store bodies in ice cream freezer trucks due to the risk associated with moving them to hospitals, and cemeteries were full.
The Pope emphasized the importance of respecting humanitarian law, particularly in Gaza, to ensure humanitarian corridors and assistance to the population.
He strongly advocated for the protection of children, the sick, the elderly, women, and all civilians, with a plea to avoid further innocent bloodshed, condemning the forces of hatred, terrorism, and war.
Pope Francis also renewed his call for the release of hostages taken by Hamas fighters in southern Israel and urged all believers to unite in prayer with the Church in the Holy Land.
Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, pledged to "demolish Hamas" as the military prepared to enter the Gaza Strip in pursuit of Islamist militants.
The Israeli government had advised Gazans to evacuate towards the South, with many already complying, given the dire circumstances in the enclave, home to over two million people.