Pope Francis Calls For ‘Immediate’ End To Israeli Strikes As Death Toll In Gaza Reaches 50,000

Pope Francis on Sunday called for an “immediate” end to Israli strikes in Gaza and for the resumption of dialogue for the release of hostages even as the death toll in the Palestinian territories have reached 50,000 in 18 months.

“I am saddened by the resumption of the intense Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with so many deaths and injuries”, Francis wrote in his Angelus prayer, which was published Sunday, according to AFP.

88-year-old Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital after five weeks and made an appearance at his window of the Gemelli hospital in Rome.

A crowd of people gathered outside the hospital on Sunday, waiting for the Pope to appear.

“I ask that the weapons be silenced immediately and that the courage be found to resume dialogue so that all the hostages can be freed and a definitive ceasefire reached,” Francis said as he is set to return to the Vatican on Sunday.

Early on Sunday, explosions echoed throughout the north, central and southern Gaza Strip as Israeli planes hit several targets in those areas in what witnesses said was an escalation of the attacks that began earlier in the week.

The fresh attacks came as Israel abandoned the ceasefire, launching a new all-out air and ground campaign on Tuesday against Hamas. Over 30 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah and Khan Younis so far on Sunday. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said the main aim of the war is to destroy Hamas as a military and governing entity.

The Pope said that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was once again very serious and required urgent commitment of the conflicting parties and the international community.

Pope Francis has spent 12 years as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He has suffered a number of health issues throughout his life, including having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21, making him more prone to infections.