vatican city /
He Pope Francis criticized the “shameful inability” of the international community to put an end to the war in the Middle East, a year after Hamas’ devastating attack on Israel.
“A year ago the fuse of hatred was lit, which did not sputter, but exploded in a spiral of violence.
“It seems that few people care about what is most needed and what is most desired: dialogue and peace (…) Violence never brings peace. History proves it, but years and years of conflict they seem to have taught us nothing“he stated in an open letter to Catholics in the region.
Francis, who has also turned Monday into a day of fasting and prayer for peace for Catholics around the worldhas spoken more openly in recent weeks about the conflict between Hamas and Israeland has become more expressive in his criticism of Israel’s military campaign.
On September 29, the 87-year-old pontiff criticized Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed the leader of Hezbollah, Hasan Nasrallahas well as non-combatants, suggesting that the airstrikes went “beyond morality.”
Israeli attacks on Lebanon unacceptable
At the beginning of September, Francis described as “unacceptable” the Israel’s actions in Lebanon and urged the international community to do everything possible to stop the fighting.
In his letter on Monday, Francis addressed directly the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip: “I am with you, people of Gaza, who have been in a desperate situation for a long time. They are in my thoughts and in my prayers daily,” he wrote.
“I am with you, who have been forced to leave your homes, abandon school and work and look for a place to take refuge from the bombings (…) I am with youwho are afraid to look up for fear of the fire falling from the sky,” he said.
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