Pope Francis expressed this Sunday his wish that the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and the militant factions be stable and that “the arms cease” in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
“In recent days we have once again witnessed armed clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, in which innocent people have lost their lives, including women and children,” said the pontiff at the end of the Regina Coeli Sunday prayer, before thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Quoted by the Efe news agency, Francisco expressed his desire that “the truce reached now become something stable” and that “the cannonade cease, because with the cannons there will never be security and stability.”
“On the contrary, all hope for peace will continue to be destroyed,” he added, before asking “Our Lady to alleviate the suffering of the martyrs of Ukraine and of all nations wounded by wars and violence.”
The truce between Israelis and Palestinians is maintained this Sunday, after several hours without rocket fire at Israel or bombardments in the Gaza Strip.
The region has experienced an escalation of violence that began on Tuesday, with intense Israeli attacks against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (JIP), an armed group considered a terrorist by Israel, the European Union and the United States.
Since then, at least 33 people have been killed in Gaza and two in Israel.
Source: TSF
