Palestine calls on Christian world to act on Pope's position regarding Gaza genocide

By Aysar Alais

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Palestine urged the global Christian community Thursday to translate Pope Francis' known position on the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza into concrete action in the face of Israel's continued assault.

In a statement, Palestine’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the Pope’s repeated calls to end the onslaught and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Earlier on Thursday, Pope Francis, in a statement, described the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli attack for the past 15 months, as "shameful."

The ministry emphasized that his advocacy for a resolution based on the two-state solution aligns with international law and humanitarian principles.

"The statements and positions expressed by Pope Francis deserve to be translated into practical steps," the ministry said, calling on Christian institutions worldwide to heed the Pope’s moral and ethical leadership.

"We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a country's energy network has been hit,” the Pope said in a yearly address to diplomats delivered on his behalf by an aide.

Recently, the Pope has intensified his criticism of the ongoing Israeli war against Gaza.

The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed over 46,000 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala