His comments came after Tuesday night’s bombing of a hospital which is feared to have killed some 500 people, and with essential supplies running critically short due to Israel’s blockade after Hamas’s bloody October 7 attack on southern Israel.
“Also today, dear brothers and sisters, our thoughts go to Palestine, to Israel,” said the pope.
“The victims are increasing and the situation in Gaza is desperate, please do everything possible to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.”
The Argentine pontiff also said he was concerned about a possible widening of the conflict in the wake of the hospital bombing which each side blames on the other.
“The possible expansion of the conflict is worrying, while many war fronts are already open in the world,” Francis said.
“Let the weapons be silent, let the cry for peace of the poor, of the people, of the children be heard.
“Brothers and sisters, war does not solve any problem, it only sows death and destruction, hatred increases and revenge multiplies. War erases the future.”
Before the al-Alhi Hospital deaths, believed to amount to about 500, Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least 3478 people and wounded more than 12,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Nearly two-thirds of those killed were children.
ANSA
