Pope Francis criticized this Monday (7) what he called the “shameful inability” of the international community to end the war in the Middle East, a year after the Hamas attack against Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.
“A year ago, the fuse of hatred was lit; it exploded into a spiral of violence,” declared Francis in an open letter to Catholics in the region.
“It seems that few people care about what is most needed and what is most desired: dialogue and peace,” he continued. “Violence never brings peace. History proves this, but years and years of conflicts seem to have taught us nothing”, he concluded.
The Pontiff, who turned Monday into a day of fasting and prayers for peace for Catholics around the world, has spoken more openly in recent weeks about the conflict between Hamas and Israel and has been more incisive in his criticism of the Israeli military campaign. .
On September 29, he criticized Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and civilians, suggesting the offensive was “beyond morality.”
The pope also called Israel’s actions in Lebanon “unacceptable” and called on the international community to do everything possible to stop the fighting.
In this Monday’s letter, Francis addressed directly the inhabitants of Gaza. “I am with you, the people of Gaza, who have been in trouble and in a difficult situation for a long time. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily,” he wrote.
“I am with you, who were forced to leave your homes, abandon school and work, and find a place of refuge from the bombings. I am with you, who are afraid to look up for fear that fire will rain from the heavens”, he added.
Understand the escalation in conflicts in the Middle East
Iran’s missile attack on Israel on the 1st marked a new stage in the regional conflict in the Middle East. On one side of the war is Israel, with support from the United States. On the other, the Axis of Resistance, which receives financial and military support from Iran and which has a series of paramilitary groups.
There are seven conflict fronts currently open: the Islamic Republic of Iran; Hamas, in the Gaza Strip; Hezbollah, in Lebanon; the Syrian government and the militias operating in the country; the Houthis, in Yemen; Shia groups in Iraq; and different militant organizations in the West Bank.
Israel has soldiers on three of these fronts: Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In the other four, it carries out aerial bombings.
The Israeli Army began a “limited ground operation” in Lebanon on September 30, days after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a bombing of the group’s headquarters in the Beirut suburb.
The Israel Defense Forces say they have killed virtually the entire Hezbollah chain of command in similar bombings carried out in recent weeks.
On September 23, Lebanon had its deadliest day since the 2006 war, with more than 500 fatalities.
At least two Brazilian teenagers died in the attacks. Itamaraty condemned the situation and called for an end to hostilities.
With the increase in hostilities, the Brazilian government announced an operation to repatriate Brazilians in Lebanon.
In the West Bank, the Israeli military is trying to dismantle groups opposed to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
In the Gaza Strip, Israel seeks to eradicate Hamas, responsible for the October 7 attack that left more than 1,200 people dead, according to information from the Israeli government. The Israeli operation killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar remains hidden in tunnels in the Gaza Strip, where dozens of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas are also believed to be in captivity.
This content was originally published in War in Gaza: Pope criticizes “shameful incapacity” of the international community on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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