VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis noted his “deep concern” on Sunday over a flare-up in tensions between Israel and Palestinians, delivering an Easter Mass in which he denounced the barriers to peace in the world.
He said the renewed violence “threatens the desired climate of trust and mutual respect needed to resume dialogue,” addressing a crowd of some 100,000 gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.
The Argentine pontiff, a week after leaving hospital, also cited a string of “stumbling blocks” to peace in the world during his traditional Easter message, making special mention of the war in Ukraine.
“Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey toward peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia,” he said.
“Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families.”
He drew attention to conflicts around the world, from Syria to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and offered prayers for victims of the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria.
This week has seen a surge in violence and unrest between Israel and Palestinians at the same time as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Jewish Passover and Christian Easter have coincided.
The pope called for a resumption in dialogue to ensure peace “in the Holy City (of Jerusalem) and in the entire region.”
On Wednesday, Israeli police stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, in a pre-dawn raid aimed at dislodging “law-breaking youths and masked agitators” they said had barricaded themselves inside.
The next day, more than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese soil into Israel, which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinian groups, saying it was most likely Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Israel then bombarded Gaza and southern Lebanon, targeting “terror infrastructures” that it said belonged to Hamas.
On Friday, two separate attacks left an Italian tourist and two British-Israeli sisters dead, and several injured, in Tel Aviv and the West Bank.
On Sunday, Israel launched artillery strikes on Syria in retaliation for rockets the army said were fired from there onto Israeli territory.
The 86-year-old pope has returned to his duties after a recent stay in hospital following a bout of bronchitis.
On Saturday evening, he presided over the Vigil mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, a two-and-a-half-hour ceremony performed before 8,000 people.
On Friday evening however, he stayed away from the Good Friday “Way of the Cross” service as a precaution because of the intense cold, the Vatican said. It was the first time he had missed the ceremony during his papacy, which began in 2013.
Francis was discharged from a Rome hospital on April 1 after a three-night stay for a bronchial infection. The pontiff has suffered several health issues in recent years, and it was his second stay in hospital since 2021.
Pope Francis has participated in various events since his hospital release, including washing the feet of 12 young prisoners on Holy Thursday.
Pope expresses ‘deep concern’ over Israel-Palestinian violence
https://arab.news/zu2n4
Pope expresses ‘deep concern’ over Israel-Palestinian violence
- The pope drew attention to conflicts around the world and offered prayers for victims of the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria
Israeli president urges global community to give Trump’s “peace plan a chance”
- The statements come in stark contrast to calls from ministers within the government which have called for a return to total war and annexation
DAVOS: Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday urged the international community to “give the peace plan a chance,” saying the emerging proposal for Gaza could pave the way for stability, reconstruction, and renewed regional diplomacy.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Herzog said the plan had the potential to deliver a historic “Marshall Plan”-style rebuilding effort for Gaza. He added that the technocratic government proposed for the enclave - already accepted by Israel - would ultimately be judged by its ability to improve daily life for Palestinians.
The statements come in stark contrast to calls from ministers within the government which have called for a return to total war and annexation and continued Israeli attacks in Gaza which have killed 383 people since the ceasefire came in place, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Herzog, who’s presidential position in Israel is non-political and largely ceremonial emphasized that the success of the peace plan would also influence broader regional dynamics, including the prospects for normalization with Saudi Arabia.
He described the Kingdom as “a very important nation,” calling it his “dream” to eventually see an agreement signed between the two countries as part of a wider push to expand the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia has made clear that any normalization would hinge on credible, irreversible steps toward a Palestinian state. Responding to questions from CNN anchor Fareed Zacharia, Herzog said he believed a political horizon and eventual Palestinian statehood were possible and would likely become a key issue in Israel’s upcoming election.
The current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and has repeatedly reinforced this position across multiple diplomatic contexts. It has also sought to expand settlements in the West Bank and weaken the Palestinian Authority, further undermining the possibility of a two-state solution.
On regional security, Herzog warned that Israel still believes Iran and Hezbollah are “regrouping and rebuilding.” He argued that Iran’s long-term future “lies in regime change,” and said Israel continues to place significant trust in the United States regarding security arrangements for Gaza.
Herzog added that Israel’s ultimate strategic goal is to “live peacefully with Syria,” though he declined to comment on ongoing diplomatic deliberations.
