Pope Leo Renews Call For Ceasefire In Gaza, Condemns Civilian Deaths, Humanitarian Crisis
Pope Leo made an appeal on Wednesday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling on both Israel and Hamas to halt hostilities and adhere strictly to international humanitarian law.
He made the call on Wednesday, during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
The pontiff said “In the Gaza Strip, the intense cries are reaching Heaven more and more from mothers and fathers who hold tightly to the bodies of their dead children.
“To those responsible, I renew my appeal: stop the fighting. Liberate all the hostages. Completely respect humanitarian law,” he said.
The pope’s remarks came amid deepening humanitarian suffering in Gaza, where an Israeli blockade on aid, now in its eleventh week, has left residents scrambling for food and safety.
Israel imposed the blockade in March, accusing Hamas of intercepting aid, which the militant group denies.
Pope Leo, elected on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis, is marking his third week as the head of the Catholic Church.
Within this period, he has already spoken out multiple times on the Gaza crisis, most recently urging Israel last week to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid.
On Wednesday, he expanded his call for peace to include Ukraine, lamenting recent attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
He urged Russia to embrace a ceasefire, while describing Russia’s most intense aerial assault of the war so far.
“I renew with vigour my appeal to stop the war and to support every initiative of dialogue and peace,” he said.
Francis, who died on April 21, had been increasingly vocal in his criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Pope Leo appears set to continue that legacy, offering a firm moral stance against civilian suffering in conflict zones across the globe.
Israel is carrying out a military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza.
The operation has resulted in more than 54,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Palestinian health ministry, leaving much of the densely populated territory in ruins.
Pope Leo Renews Call For Ceasefire In Gaza, Condemns Civilian Deaths, Humanitarian Crisis is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
