Over three weeks into the ongoing Gaza conflict, Pope Francis has issued a heartfelt appeal to both Israel and the Palestinians, urging them to seek a peaceful resolution through negotiations.
The leader of the Catholic Church emphasized that “Every war is a defeat. Nothing is solved by war. Everything is gained with peace, with dialogue.” His call comes as a plea for an end to the ongoing hostilities that have brought immense suffering to the region.
The 86-year-old Pope fervently advocated for a two-state solution, which has been a longstanding proposal involving the establishment of separate states for Israel and the Palestinians. Despite extensive international support for this idea, its progress has remained stagnant.
“In war, one slap in the face provokes another. A strong one and then another stronger one, and it goes on,” Pope Francis stated, emphasizing that a continuous cycle of violence is detrimental to the well-being of both nations.
He stressed the need for both peoples to coexist peacefully, asserting that a “clever solution” lies in the two-state model, with “two peoples, two states.” The Pope cited the Oslo Accords, initiated in 1993, as a precedent for such a solution. However, the process has experienced little advancement over the past two decades.
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In addition to his call for peace, Pope Francis strongly condemned any form of anti-Semitism, underlining the importance of combating prejudice and hatred in all its forms. His message seeks to promote unity and tolerance in a region marred by conflict and division. (Source: NAN)