Pope Francis: Hamas Should Release Hostages

Pope Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics, called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Sunday and once again urged the Hamas militants to release the hostages. The United States, the European Union, and Japan have designated the Hamas militant group, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, as a terrorist organization. According to Reuters, during the weekly blessing ceremony in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, he addressed both sides of the conflict, stating, "Do not let the possibility of laying down arms" become an ineffective solution. Referring to a recent television appeal by Father Ibrahim Faltas, one of the Vatican representatives in Jerusalem, he said: "Ceasefire." Pope Francis continued, "We say ceasefire, ceasefire. Brothers and sisters, stop! War is always a defeat, always." He pointed to the dire situation of Palestinians and Israelis, saying, "Especially in Gaza, let there be a place to guarantee humanitarian aid and the hostages should be released immediately." Concurrently with the Pope's warnings in the Vatican, the United Nations reported that thousands of desperate residents of Gaza attacked warehouses and distribution centers of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to take flour and "essential lifesaving items." The Pope's call for a ceasefire comes as Israeli forces are conducting ground operations against Hamas in Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as the second phase of a three-week war aimed at suppressing the group. Tanks and infantry of the Israeli army launched a ground assault on Gaza three weeks after Hamas's brutal attack on Israel. The extensive ground invasion occurred as Israel attacked Gaza from air, land, and sea. Opponents of Netanyahu from a month ago are now helping the families of Israeli hostages. A UN agency reported an attack by a thousand people on international aid warehouses in Gaza. Israel: Several armed Hamas members were killed in ground force operations. The Israeli army has again requested the evacuation of northern Gaza.