On Sunday, Pope Francis urged the creation of humanitarian corridors to allow the transport of necessities to the Gaza Strip, which is currently the target of a fierce Israeli airstrike after Hamas’s leadership launched a brutal offensive.
“Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population,” said the Pope after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome’s Saint Peter’s Square.
Israel shut off Gaza’s access to water, food, and electricity, and has vowed to keep the siege in place until all hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian Islamist militant group are released. This has raised concerns about a humanitarian disaster there.
Since the onslaught by Hamas terrorists, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 Israelis, Israel has retaliated with a brutal bombing campaign that has killed more than 2,300 people in Gaza.
“I strongly urge that children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians should not fall victim to the conflict”, he added.
“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”.
On Sunday, Israeli forces were getting ready to invade Gaza on foot.
Additionally, Pope Francis reiterated his demand “for the release of the hostages” taken prisoner by Hamas militants in southern Israel.
On Tuesday, he urged “all believers to join in prayer with the Church in the Holy Land.”
