On Sunday, Pope Francis called on Israel and Hamas to immediately accept proposals for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and he urged for humanitarian aid to urgently reach the Palestinians in Gaza. The Pope also thanked Jordan, which is set to host an international conference for humanitarian aid to Palestinians this week. He stated, "I encourage the international community to act urgently and by all means to help the people of Gaza who have been worn down by war." He added, "Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need; no one should hinder it."
The Pope noted that Saturday marked the tenth anniversary of the prayer for peace that he held in the Vatican Gardens, attended by then Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He continued, "This meeting showed that a handshake is possible, and that making peace requires courage – a courage far greater than that required to wage war."
Pope Francis expressed his support for the ceasefire proposals and stated his hope that the conditions would be quickly accepted by both sides, while acknowledging that negotiations are not easy. He concluded, "I hope that the proposed peace initiatives are accepted on all fronts and that the hostages are released immediately for the sake of both Palestinians and Israelis."
