Pope Francis has characterised the ongoing bombardment on Gaza extending beyond war to the realm of terrorism.
In spontaneous remarks during his Wednesday general audience in St Peter’s Square, the head of the Catholic Church revealed his direct conversations with Israeli relatives of Hamas-held captives and Palestinians with family members in Gaza, emphasising the shared suffering on both sides.
The pope expressed a distinct view that the situation has surpassed the bounds of war, categorizing it as terrorism.
During the pope’s comments, he urged prayers for restraint on both sides, emphasising the detrimental consequences of unchecked passions that ultimately result in widespread harm.
These statements followed the pope’s recent meetings and coincided with the announcement of a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar.
The truce agreement involved the release of 50 women and children held captive in Gaza, exchanged for 150 Palestinian women and children in Israeli custody.
Additionally, the accord included crucial humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, addressing the aftermath of weeks of relentless Israeli attacks that led to a significant loss of life, with over 14,100 casualties, including 5,600 children, and displacement of approximately 1.7 million individuals from their homes.
