Pope Francis called for respect for humanitarian law and the provision of humanitarian corridors for people in the Gaza Strip in his speech in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi also held talks with international and regional partners on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip after Israel cut a variety of vital services to the population of 2.2 million, including electricity and water.
The head of the Catholic Church said he continued to follow events in Israel and the Palestinian territories with great pain.
He said that his thoughts were with many people, especially children and the elderly. He asked for the warring forces to spare the sick, women, children, and all civilians in the bloody conflict.
He also reiterated his call from Oct. 8 for the release of the hostages.
“Respect humanitarian law, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to provide humanitarian corridors and assistance to the entire population,” Pope Francis said.
He stressed that many lives have already been lost.
“Let there be no more innocent bloodshed in the Holy Land, in Ukraine or elsewhere. Wars are always a failure. Enough is enough!” declared the head of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis has declared a day of prayer for peace on Oct. 17, with the Church in the Holy Land. He said prayer was the calm and holy force that could be used to confront the evil forces of hatred, terrorism and war.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi also held talks with international and regional partners on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Martin Griffiths, head of the UN’s emergency operations, said on Saturday that the situation in the Gaza Strip was rapidly becoming untenable.
The Egyptian president’s office stressed that Sisi is opposed to any plan to relocate Palestinians at the expense of other countries and said Egypt considers its own security a cardinal issue. Sisi called for an international summit to resolve the crisis.
