VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis expressed his “deep concern” over the recent flare-up in tensions between Israel and Palestinians during his Easter Mass on Sunday.
Speaking to a crowd of thousands gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope said that the renewed violence “threatens the desired climate of mutual respect and trust needed to resume dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.”
This week has seen an increase in violence and unrest as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Jewish Passover, and Christian Easter coincide.
On Wednesday, Israeli police attacked the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa Mosque in a pre-dawn raid aimed at dislodging “law-breaking youths and masked agitators” they said had barricaded themselves inside.
Escalating violence between Israel and Palestine
The move was widely criticized by the international community, leading to clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers.
The next day, over 30 rockets were fired from Lebanese territory into Israel, which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinian groups, saying it was most likely Hamas group, 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. The attacks were condemned by Israeli and Palestinian leaders alike.
On Sunday, Israel launched artillery strikes on Syria in retaliation for rockets the army said were fired from there onto Israeli territory.
The strikes targeted what Israel called “Iranian military infrastructure” in Syria.
The situation has raised concerns among the international community, with the United Nations calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Pope’s statement adds to the growing calls for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict between the two sides.
