Pope urges Hamas to release hostages in Gaza strip

Pope Francis has once again appealed to the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, urging them to release all hostages taken to the Gaza Strip during the recent attack on Southern Israel.

During his weekly prayers at St Peter’s Square in Rome, the Pope reiterated his call for the release of the hostages, emphasizing his strong demand to prevent children, the elderly, women, and all civilians from becoming victims of the conflict.

With an expected ground offensive on Gaza by Israeli troops, Pope Francis also called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors in the coastal enclave to ensure the safety of the entire population.

It is estimated that Hamas is currently holding more than 150 hostages, including Israelis and citizens of other countries.

Additionally, Pope Francis expressed his concern for the suffering of the Ukrainian people who have been under attack by Russia since February 2022, emphasizing the need to remember their plight.

The Pope concluded by stating, “Enough is enough,” and emphasized that “war always means failure – always.”

Credit: NAN