VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Tuesday said that Christians of Holy Land are going to mark Christmas of pain this year as the war in the Gaza Strip rages on, calling for prayers and tangible aid for the devastated Palestinian enclave.
Francis in a post on social media platform X, formerly twitter said for the inhabitants of the Holy Land, a Christmas of pain and mourning looms. We do not want to leave them alone. May we stand by them in prayer and tangible aid.
For the inhabitants of the Holy Land, a #Christmas of pain and mourning looms. We do not want to leave them alone. May we stand by them in prayer and tangible aid. The suffering of Bethlehem is an open wound for the Middle East and the entire world.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 19, 2023
According to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry the relentless Israeli bombardment has killed more than 19,450 Gazans, mostly women and children.
Pope Francis has several times called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of all captives.
On Sunday, he said Israel is using terrorism tactics in the Palestinian enclave while deploring the reported killing by the Israeli military of two Christian women who had taken refuge in a Catholic church complex.
The war was paused for seven days as a result of a Qatar- US brokered deal during which Hamas released 110 captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
READ ALSO:Red Cross Chief Terms Gaza War a Moral Failure
According to the UN some 1.87 million Palestinians, over 80 percent of Gaza’s population, have left their homes.
The Israeli raids have almost destroyed entire neighborhoods in northern Gaza. Israeli ground troops have been facing heavy resistance from Hamas fighters in the area.
