Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate resumption of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip during his weekly general audience on Wednesday, highlighting the escalating crisis in the region. The pontiff said the plight of the Palestinians was “increasingly worrying and saddening.” He highlighted the urgency of beginning to deliver relief to people who are enduring violence today. His comments come as the UK government has suspended trade negotiations with Israel. This decision places considerable pressure on Israeli authorities to reconsider their position toward this aid.
In a shocking parliamentary statement Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared. So last week he suspended U.S. trade talks with the ally, denouncing the “horrific” and “utterly intolerable” state of affairs in Gaza. Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
These images and videos inevitably raise questions about why Israeli forces have suffered such major losses. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announcement confirmed the death of a service member in combat operations in southern Gaza on May 20. Violence has spread across Israel’s northern border into Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike targeting a UAV drone attack injured nine people in the Tyre area of southern Lebanon.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a third of his delegation in Doha to return to Israel. He should press for an immediate ceasefire and work to negotiate the release of all hostages. In the wake of these unfortunate events, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unequivocal. He dismissed rumors that the U.S. is considering or has discussed deporting Palestinians from Gaza to Libya.
Humanitarian organizations have been calling for strong measures and are rebuking Israel along moral lines. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has denounced that which little aid is permitted into Gaza is not enough, just serving as a “smokescreen” for the continued siege. On Tuesday, Israel declared that 93 trucks of aid had crossed into Gaza. The United Nations revealed that none of this aid ever got to those in need, raising even more alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Recently, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had sounded the same alarms over Israel’s ongoing lethal military strikes in Gaza. He claimed that these acts verge on a war crime. He pointed out how the ongoing military campaign lacks any identifiable goal or endgame. It is most of all unlikely to save the hostages that Hamas has taken.
“What Israel is doing now in Gaza is very close to a war crime.” – Ehud Olmert
Our math shows that as of October 7, 2023 at least 53,573 Palestinians have died. Furthermore, 121,688 others have been injured as a result of Israeli bombardment in Gaza. The resulting scale of suffering has led world leaders to call for a cessation of hostilities and for expanded humanitarian access.
Pope Leo XIV reiterated his appeal for fair humanitarian aid while condemning the impact of ongoing violence on vulnerable populations. He stated, “I renew my appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end the hostilities, the high price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick.”
“Fighting the killers of Hamas, we are not fighting innocent civilians.” – Pope Leo XIV
The international community’s response to the humanitarian crisis is ongoing, with further developments still coming. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani condemned Israel’s aggressive actions as a “genocide.” He claimed that their antics endanger any opportunity for peace in the whole region.
“This irresponsible, aggressive behaviour undermines any potential chance for peace.” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani
Israel’s management of aid has already come under heavy criticism from humanitarian organizations. Pascale Coissard from MSF expressed concern over the limited aid entering Gaza, describing it as an inadequate response designed to deflect accusations of starvation while keeping civilians in dire conditions.
“The Israeli authorities’ decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza.” – Pascale Coissard
With tensions skyrocketing in Gaza and demands for immediate humanitarian aid increasing, the situation is rapidly worsening. This developing crisis is emerging quickly and with unprecedented global interest. For these reasons leaders in the United States and across the globe are calling for urgent action to alleviate the suffering caused by years of conflict and blockades.