Pope Francis on Sunday called for “an end to the attacks” in Israel, explaining that “terrorism and war do not lead to a solution”.
He made the call in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square.
“I follow with apprehension and pain what is happening in Israel… I express my solidarity with the families of the victims, and I pray for all those who are experiencing hours of terror and anguish”, he said.
“Let the attacks and weapons cease, please, because it must be understood that terrorism and war bring no solutions, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent lives. War is a defeat, every war is a defeat. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine,” the pope said.
Recall that on Saturday, gun battles raged into the night after Hamas’ large-scale attack against Israel Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill and abduct soldiers and civilians.
The attack signals the first of such combined ground, air and sea offensive, half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
According to reports, at least 250 Israelis have died from the attack, with more than 300 Palestinians killed in Israel’s retaliatory bombardment.
