Pope Calls for An End to The Gaza War and Freeing of Israeli Hostages
The Pope has called for an end to the war in Gaza and for the freeing of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
In his traditional Christmas day message, Pope Francis also called for more aid to Gaza to solve a desperate humanitarian situation.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October, when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostages.
More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli bombing, Hamas says.
Speaking to thousands of worshippers gathered at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the pope lamented violence against Israelis and Palestinians.
Read Also:
US Backs UN Security Council Vote on Aid Flow to Gaza
Turning to other conflicts across the world, the pope also called for “peace for Ukraine”, where the war with Russia has been going on for nearly two years.
He also said that he prayed “that political and social stability will soon be attained” in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, countries rocked by years of war and unrest.
Pope Francis expressed his wish for peaceful solutions for other trouble spots, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, parts of Africa and North and South Korea.
He also dedicated a part of his message to millions of migrants worldwide, referring to them as the little Jesuses of today, and highlighted the perils faced by those undertaking perilous journeys in search of hope.
The Pope’s Christmas message emphasized the urgency of achieving peace and stability in conflict-ridden regions globally, urging the international community to work towards ending violence and promoting humanitarian efforts.
