He dad Francisco met separately this Wednesday with relatives of Israeli hostages in Loop and Palestinian prisoners in Israeland stated that both parties are “suffering a lot.”
A photo provided by Vatican Media shows Pope Francis (left) speaking with a relative of Palestinians currently experiencing the war in Gaza at the Vatican on November 22, 2023. (Photo by Divisione Produzione Fotografica / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)
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At the end of his weekly hearing at the Vaticanthe Argentine pontiff, 86, announced that he had received the two delegations, “one of Israelis who have relatives hostages in Loop, and another of Palestinians who have to relatives prisoners In Israel”.
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“They suffer a lot, and I have heard how both of you are suffering.”he emphasized dad.
“Wars cause this, but here we have gone beyond wars. This is not a war, this is terrorism”he added, without specifying whether he was referring to the attacks of Hamas on October 7 in Israel, to the operation Israeli military made in response, or to both.
He Vatican explained last week that with these private meetings“from nature exclusively humanitarian”the bishop of Rome wanted to show his “spiritual closeness.”
Rachel Goldbergwhose 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polinis one of those kidnapped by Hamassaid he had hope in the “great influence” of the dad.
“He is highly respected in the Muslim world, in the Jewish world, whatever the confession. I believe that when you speak, the world truly listens.“he said at a press conference in Rome along with other families after their meeting with him dadwhich lasted about twenty minutes.
:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/A2UQTP2FPNDSJLYFGCAJAOPMH4.jpg "Pope Francis meets with relatives of Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners 1")
A photo provided by Vatican Media shows Pope Francis (2ndR) meeting with relatives of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas in the Vatican on November 22, 2023. (Photo by Divisione Produzione Fotografica / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)
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The families ask that access be allowed Red Cross to the hostages and “We believe that the holy Father has the necessary influence in the world to make this happen“he stressed Goldberg.
Israel and the palestinian islamist movement Hamas They announced this Wednesday an agreement that will allow the release of at least 50 hostages Israelis and of prisoners Palestiniansduring a four-day truce in the Gaza Strip after weeks of incessant bombing.
The militiamen of Hamas They will release during that truce 50 women and children captured during their October 7 offensive in southern Israel.
:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/Y5E6K7Y4MVBOFFM5773Y566BB4.jpg "Pope Francis meets with relatives of Hamas hostages and Palestinian prisoners 2")
Palestinians from Gaza, who were received by Pope Francis this morning, attend his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on November 22, 2023. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)
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In those attacks, carried out by surprise coinciding with the end of a Jewish holiday, Hamas killed some 1,200 peoplemostly civilians of all ages shot, burned alive or mutilated. The Islamists also kidnapped around 240 people.
Israel declared war on Hamas and Since then it has incessantly bombed the impoverished enclave and has subjected it to a strict siege. According to Hamaswhich governs the Stripethe Israeli attacks left more than 14,000 dead, mostly civilians and including thousands of children.
