Pope Leo XIV appealed on Wednesday (21) to Israel to allow the entry of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, classifying the situation in Palestinian territory as “even more worrying and sad.”
“I renew my appeal… so that it allows the entry of fair humanitarian aid and end hostilities, whose high price is paid by children, the elderly and sick,” said the pontiff during his first general weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square.
Leo XIV was greeted by a crowd as he traveled the place of the hearing at the Paparmobile, stopping to bless babies.
The pontiff, elected two weeks ago, is the first American leader of the Catholic Church.
He mentioned the situation in Gaza several times in the first weeks of his papacy.
In his first Sunday message, on May 11, the new Pope asked for an immediate ceasefire and the liberation of all Israeli hostages maintained by the Militant Hamas group.
Israel said on Monday that it would allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza after a 11-week blockade, but the United Nations reported that no help had been distributed until Tuesday (20).
The appeal comes a day after British Prime Minister Keir Stmerer announced that his government suspended free trade negotiations with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador in the UK to discuss the situation in Gaza.
Israel states that it plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and control the entire Gaza Strip, devastated by an Israeli air and terrestrial war since the Hamas Transfronho Attack against Israeli communities in October 2023.
The Israeli government has stated that its blockade aims to partly prevent Palestinian militants from dodging and seizing humanitarian aid supplies.
Hamas denied having done it.
This content was originally published in Pope Leo XIV appeals to Israel to allow humanitarian aid in Gaza on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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