Pope Francis condemned Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel and pleaded with the militants to free their hostages unharmed, but he also expressed concern about Israel’s tightening siege on Gaza and its impact on innocent civilians.
“I continue to follow with sorrow and apprehension what is happening in Israel and Palestine. So many people killed, and others injured,” the pope said on 11th October at the end of his weekly general audience. As the pope spoke, the Israeli Defense Forces website was reporting more than 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas and more than 2,800 Israelis injured.
At the same time, the Gaza Ministry of Health was reporting a death toll of more than 950 Palestinians and said 5,000 others were injured as Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza.
“I pray for all those families that saw a day of celebration transformed into a day of mourning. And I ask that the hostages be released immediately,” he said.
Israeli government officials have estimated that Hamas is holding some 150 Israeli hostages. “One who is attacked has the right of self-defence,” the pope said, “but I am very concerned about the total siege under which Palestinians are living in Gaza, where there also have been many innocent victims.”
Picture: The daughter of Zakaria Abu Maamar, a member of Hamas political office, is comforted as she cries during her father’s funeral after he was killed in an airstrike, 10th October 2023, in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip. (OSV News photo/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters)