VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis returned to work full-time on Wednesday following a colon operation, urging the international community to help a struggling Lebanon.
The 84-year-old took time to bless children and pose for selfies in the Vatican at the weekly general audience one month to the day after the delicate operation, which saw him hospitalized for over a week.
“Today I appeal to the international community to help Lebanon along the path to resurrection through concrete gestures, not just words,” Francis said.
Lebanon was Wednesday marking a year since a cataclysmic explosion ravaged Beirut, killing at least 214 people in its worst peace-time disaster, when the country’s economy was already in tatters.
The spiralling economic crisis has been branded by the World Bank as one of the planet’s worst since the mid-19th century. Lebanon has also had to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
Francis said he hoped an international conference co-hosted by France and the UN on the day of the anniversary to raise humanitarian aid proves “productive.”
According to the Vatican News portal, the general audience marked the resumption of normal activities for the pope, who underwent planned surgery for inflammation of the colon at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital on July 4.
Francis, who had previously been in fairly good health, had been taking it easy since the operation although he led the Sunday Angelus prayers both from hospital and from the Vatican window on his return.
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Pope Francis back to full-time work with call for Lebanon aid
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Pope Francis back to full-time work with call for Lebanon aid
- ‘Today I appeal to the international community to help Lebanon along the path to resurrection through concrete gestures, not just words’
Influential Israeli minister Smotrich calls for US-led center for Gaza to be shuttered
- Smotrich also says hostile states should be removed from center
- Calls for ultimatum to Hamas, then full-force assault
JERUSALEM: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to shut a US-led multinational coordinating center that supports President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war.
Washington established the Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC) last October as a center for civilian and military personnel from other countries to work alongside US and Israeli officials on post-war Gaza planning.
“The time has come to dismantle the headquarters in Kiryat Gat,” said Smotrich, the influential, far-right cabinet minister, in remarks shared by his office to media, referring to the Israeli city northeast of Gaza where the center is based.
The Israeli prime minister’s office, the US State Department and the US military’s Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the remarks.
Smotrich also said that Britain, Egypt and other countries that are “hostile to Israel and undermine its security” should be removed from the CMCC. The British and Egyptian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Central Command in December said that 60 countries and organizations were represented at the center. The CMCC has also been tasked with facilitating humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
The US-led CMCC was established after Trump announced his 20-point plan to end the war. Germany, France, and Canada are also among countries that have sent personnel there.
Smotrich, speaking at an event marking the establishment of a new Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said that Hamas should be given a “very short” ultimatum to disarm and go into exile, and once that ultimatum expires, the military should storm Gaza with “full force” to destroy the militant group.
“Mr. Prime Minister, it’s either us or them. Either full Israeli control, the destruction of Hamas, and the continued long-term suppression of terrorism, encouragement of the enemy’s emigration outward and permanent Israeli settlement,” he said.
The plan, announced by Trump in September, states that members of Hamas who commit to peaceful coexistence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Those who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to other countries.
The White House last week announced that the president’s plan to end the war was moving to the second phase, which would include the demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza.
Under the initial phase of the plan, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza that went into effect in October.
Hamas also released the remaining living hostages abducted from Israel during the October 2023 attack, who had been held in Gaza since then. The remains of all but one deceased hostage have been handed over as well.
Since the ceasefire started, Israel has repeatedly carried out air strikes in Gaza.
Over 460 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.
Washington established the Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC) last October as a center for civilian and military personnel from other countries to work alongside US and Israeli officials on post-war Gaza planning.
“The time has come to dismantle the headquarters in Kiryat Gat,” said Smotrich, the influential, far-right cabinet minister, in remarks shared by his office to media, referring to the Israeli city northeast of Gaza where the center is based.
The Israeli prime minister’s office, the US State Department and the US military’s Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the remarks.
Smotrich also said that Britain, Egypt and other countries that are “hostile to Israel and undermine its security” should be removed from the CMCC. The British and Egyptian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Central Command in December said that 60 countries and organizations were represented at the center. The CMCC has also been tasked with facilitating humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
The US-led CMCC was established after Trump announced his 20-point plan to end the war. Germany, France, and Canada are also among countries that have sent personnel there.
Smotrich, speaking at an event marking the establishment of a new Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said that Hamas should be given a “very short” ultimatum to disarm and go into exile, and once that ultimatum expires, the military should storm Gaza with “full force” to destroy the militant group.
“Mr. Prime Minister, it’s either us or them. Either full Israeli control, the destruction of Hamas, and the continued long-term suppression of terrorism, encouragement of the enemy’s emigration outward and permanent Israeli settlement,” he said.
The plan, announced by Trump in September, states that members of Hamas who commit to peaceful coexistence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Those who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to other countries.
The White House last week announced that the president’s plan to end the war was moving to the second phase, which would include the demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza.
Under the initial phase of the plan, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza that went into effect in October.
Hamas also released the remaining living hostages abducted from Israel during the October 2023 attack, who had been held in Gaza since then. The remains of all but one deceased hostage have been handed over as well.
Since the ceasefire started, Israel has repeatedly carried out air strikes in Gaza.
Over 460 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.
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