Pope Francis continued his plea for an end to the Hamas-Israel confrontation on Sunday, urging the release of prisoners and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling the situation as “very serious.”
“I continue to think about the serious situation in Palestine and in Israel where many people have lost their lives,” he said after the traditional Angelus prayer at Saint Peter’s Square in Rome.
“I beg you in the name of God to stop, cease fire,” he said.
“I hope all the possibilities are being explored so that a widening of the conflict is absolutely avoided, that the wounded can be helped, and that aid can reach Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious, and that the hostages be immediately released.”
According to Israeli police, Hamas militants rushed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people and kidnapping 240 others in the country’s bloodiest attack in its history.
In retaliation, Israel has mercilessly bombarded the beleaguered Gaza Strip, killing over 9,770 Palestinians, the majority of them are women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The pope has already urged an end to the violence and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
According to the Vatican, he discussed “conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace” with US President Joe Biden last month.
