Pope Francis calls for humanitarian corridors in Gaza

AFP , Sunday 15 Oct 2023

Pope Francis called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of essentials to the Gaza Strip, which is under heavy Israeli bombardment following Hamas attacks on 7 October, during an address at St. Peter's Square on Sunday.

Pope Francis

 

"Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population," said the Pope.

Pope Francis strongly urged "that children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians should not fall victim to the conflict".

"There have already been so many deaths, please let's not shed any more innocent blood, not in the Holy Land, not in Ukraine, not anywhere else. Enough is enough. War is always a defeat." he noted

Pope Francis also renewed his call to release the captives kidnapped by Hamas in southern Israel.

The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip has now reached its 9th day, and the situation is growing increasingly dire for the 2.3 million civilians residing in Gaza.

Israeli authorities had initially estimated about 150 Israeli and foreign captives after Hamas launched its October 7 attack that killed at least 1,300 in Israel.

Meanwhile, 2,329 Palestinians lost their lives since the outbreak of the latest conflict, marking the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for Palestinians.

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