In a bid to put an end to the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza, Pope Francis delivered a heartfelt message on Sunday, urging an end to the loss of innocent lives, including children and women.
The Holy Father called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the delivery of essential supplies to the beleaguered Gaza Strip, which is reeling under heavy Israeli bombardment following a brutal assault by Hamas, its ruling authority. He emphasized the paramount importance of upholding humanitarian laws even amidst the ongoing conflict.
Disturbing reports have emerged about the dire conditions in Gaza’s hospitals, with healthcare workers resorting to storing bodies in ice cream freezer trucks due to the perilous nature of transporting them to hospitals, compounded by overflowing cemeteries.
As tensions continued to mount, Israeli forces were reportedly preparing for a potential ground invasion of Gaza.
Concerns have been mounting over the looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with reports of Israel cutting off access to essential resources, including water, food, and power. Israel has declared its intent to maintain a complete siege until all hostages taken by the Palestinian Islamist militant group are released.
The recent violence in the region has claimed a significant toll, with over 2,300 lives lost in Gaza following a devastating bombing campaign launched by Israel in response to an attack by Hamas, which resulted in more than 1,300 Israeli casualties.
But the Pope, who spoke after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome’s Saint Peter’s Square, said, “Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population.
“I strongly urge that children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians should not fall victim to the conflict.
“There have already been so many deaths, please let’s not shed any more innocent blood, not in the Holy Land, not in Ukraine, not anywhere else. Enough is enough. War is always a defeat,” he said, castigating “the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism and war.”
Pope Francis also renewed his call “for the release of the hostages” kidnapped by Hamas fighters in southern Israel and invited “all believers to unite in prayer with the Church in the Holy Land” on Tuesday.