Pope on Gaza: "There is no future based on violence, forced exile, and vengeance"

Credit: Vatican News

Source: Vatican News

At Sunday's Angelus on 21 September, Pope Leo thanked Catholic associations committed to solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip and renewed his heartfelt plea for peace.

Associating himself with those committed to assisting the people of Gaza, and with the pastors who lead the Churches throughout the Holy Land, Pope Leo repeated once again, "There is no future based on violence, forced exile, or vengeance!" He said, "peoples need peace," adding that "those who truly love them work for peace."

The Holy Father made his remarks immediately following the Angelus on Sunday, offering his greetings to representatives of, "various Catholic associations committed to solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip." He said, "Dear friends, I appreciate your initiative and the many others throughout the Church that express closeness to our brothers and sisters suffering in that tormented land."

The Israeli assault on Gaza City continues. At least 60 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Saturday, according to Gazan health authorities, amid an ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza City and throughout the enclave. Israeli forces have been destroying high-rise buildings in Gaza City and working to dismantle underground shafts and booby-trapped structures in their latest offensive, which began last week.

The Reuters news agency reports that Israeli forces control the city's eastern suburbs, hoping to use further territorial gains to advance on the central and western parts of the city. The Israeli government claims almost half a million people have left Gaza City since the beginning of the month. However, Hamas, which controls Gaza disputes those figures, saying 300,000 people have fled, while more than 900,000 remain, including a small number of Israeli hostages - less than 50 - still being held by Hamas or other Palestinian groups.

More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its invasion of Gaza two years ago, following an attack on southern Israel by Hamas that left some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead, and saw approximately 250 civilians and soldiers taken hostage.

Pope Leo has constantly called for "a ceasefire, the release of hostages, a negotiated diplomatic solution, and full respected international humanitarian law."