He also reiterated his appeal for Hamas to release the hostages it took in last week’s attacks in Israel.
“I continue to follow what is happening in Israel and Palestine with much pain,” Francis said during his Angelus address.
“I think of the many [people affected], especially the young and the elderly.
“I renew my call for the release of the hostages, and I strongly demand that children, the elderly, women and all civilians are not victims of the conflict.
“Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where there is an urgent need to guarantee humanitarian corridors and to rescue the entire population.
“So many have already died. Please do not spill any more innocent blood, neither in the Holy Land, nor in Ukraine, nor anywhere else.”
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on Sunday called on Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing to enable civilians to leave the Gaza Strip after the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel.
“It is vital that the Rafah crossing is opened to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza,” Crosetto said via X.
The minister called on Egypt to “show its leadership in the Arab world” and on Israel to show that “the war is only against Hamas”.
ANSA
