On Sunday, Pope Francis asked for a ceasefire in Gaza, urging everyone to respect it immediately. He thanked the mediators who helped make this truce happen and highlighted the importance of providing more humanitarian aid to people in need. “I hope all the hostages will soon be able to go home and reunite with their families,” he said.
The Pope prayed for both Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing that they need hope now more than ever. He called on their leaders, with support from the international community, to work towards a fair solution that benefits both sides. “Let’s all say yes to dialogue, reconciliation, and peace,” he added.
As part of the truce, 33 hostages taken during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, will return home. In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This truce aims to end over 15 months of conflict that followed the deadly attack by Hamas.
The agreement was made after long negotiations led by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. The truce began just before Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president.
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