Forum Topic

Pope calls for an immediate end to the barbarity in Palestine.

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called for an "immediate end to the barbarity of the war" and urged against "indiscriminate use of force".His comments came days after a deadly Israeli strike hit Gaza's only Catholic Church, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country deeply regretted.Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,895 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.

Gerry Boyce ● 2d19 Comments

Mr Boyce'Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,895 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.'I agree the death toll is appalling but I would not at all trust any figures given out by a terrorist group like Hamas."Good news ! Baby killing gang opens a Health Ministry".The UN might quote these figures but that adds no credence to them either looking at the biased anti-Israel stance it always takes.What I think would be in Israel's best interest to do is to allow into the area some reputable peace keeping and investigative body made up of senior and respected representatives from the major western countries.Perhaps we would then get an understanding of the truth regarding the conflict.

John Hawkes ● 4h

Gerry nobody likes the suffering in the Middle East but amid the aid deliveries people are still launching rockets into Israel.  Change the Hamas Charter, release the hostages get round a table and talk.

Robert Wheeler ● 5h

Church leaders in Jerusalem say they have returned from a trip to Gaza with "broken hearts", describing starving people and children not "batting an eyelid" at the sound of bombing."We have seen men holding out in the sun for hours in the hope of simple meal," the Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, told journalists."This is humiliation that is hard to bear when you see it with you own eyes. It is morally unacceptable and unjustifiable."The Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilos III, said his Church would "stand in solidarity" with "the whole people of Gaza".

Gerry Boyce ● 5h

The new statement from more than 100 NGOs says that an average of only 28 lorryloads of aid is being distributed daily in Gaza.Yet dramatic footage posted on X by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani on Tuesday shows huge quantities of goods – he says from 950 lorries – stacked up just inside Gaza’s crossings. “This after Israeli facilitated the entry of aid,” he writes.So why is so much aid stuck?During the war, the UN has repeatedly said it struggles to get the necessary Israeli authorisation to collect incoming supplies with Gazan drivers from inside the crossing points and transport it through military zones.But currently we are hearing from the UN that its key problem is that it's struggling to get commitments from the IDF that desperate Palestinians will not be killed while getting life-saving aid. Each time their teams try to collect aid from crossings, UN workers say, civilians approach their lorries which come under fire.This is “despite repeated assurances that troops would not engage or be present,” says Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general.“This cannot be stressed enough that this unacceptable pattern is the opposite of what facilitating humanitarian operations should look like,” he said at a briefing on Tuesday. “Absolutely no-one should have to risk their lives to get food.”

Gerry Boyce ● 7h

Mr Wheeler'Meanwhile Hamas has managed to fire rockets into Israel recently so as opposed to spending money on arms why don’t Hamas come to a table with a proposal to release the hostages and change their Charter.I think Lammy has absolutely no credibility at all in the UK and more worryingly internationally.'Well put.But an opinion shared by few on this rabidly anti-Israel/pro-Palestine Forum.And also by the majority of Labour MPs and supporters.

John Hawkes ● 7h

Mr MacLeod'Mr Hawkes is a propagandist. All his posts repeat his opinions ad nauseam. By all means let him exercise his democratic freedom to carry on doing so, but would it be a good idea to pass over his posts until he has something new to say?'So I am a propagandist.For whom ?Is that because I express my views which in the main are supportive of Israel; try to put its actions in context; and point out, which most on this Forum ignore, the pressure they are under from Hamas and the atrocities Hamas have committed and are still doing so with regards to its holding of hostages.You obviously disagree with all of the views I hold.As such, why don't you refute them and tell us what you personally think of the situation; who is in the wrong; and your ideas for resolving the problem rather than just damn me as a 'propagandist' for having the temerity to disagree with you."My views are right and true. Yours are propaganda" !And yes please don't read my posts so that you can avoid the effort of responding to them.

John Hawkes ● 1d

Meanwhile Hamas has managed to fire rockets into Israel recently so as opposed to spending money on arms why don’t Hamas come to a table with a proposal to release the hostages and change their Charter.I think Lammy has absolutely no credibility at all in the UK and more worryingly internationally.

Robert Wheeler ● 1d

Some 33 people, including 12 children, have died from malnutrition in the past 48 hours, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministryIt comes as the UN chief says Gaza's "last lifelines" are collapsing, with humanitarian conditions breaking down at an "accelerating" pace during Israel's offensiveUK Foreign Secretary David Lammy tells the BBC he's "sickened" by the "grotesque" scenes in Gaza

Gerry Boyce ● 1d

Mr Hawkes is a propagandist. All his posts repeat his opinions ad nauseam. By all means let him exercise his democratic freedom to carry on doing so, but would it be a good idea to pass over his posts until he has something new to say?

Alexander MacLeod ● 1d

Ms Bond'Unfortunately Mr Hawkes is completely unable to admit that Israel itself has any extremists who also need to compromise'.That is absolutely NOT what I believe.Where have I stated that position ?Of course it does but as far as I know they have not kidnapped, killed and still hold hostage any Palestinian youths from a disco.In a country under siege and the threat of annihilation by Hamas Palestinians as is Israel, there will always be those holding extreme views as to what the solution to the conflict is.Do you find this unnatural ?As far as I know they do not represent the official Israeli government policy.The answer in my view is negotiation between Israel and those that are the legitimate rulers of Gaza and the West Bank.Whoever they are.Do you not agree ?Unfortunately Gaza is run by Hamas, a terrorist mob of killers that Israel is quite right to be very wary of trusting to keep its word.Do you agree with this point ?A brief description of what you think should be done by both sides to end this conflict would be most appreciated.Would you provide one ?

John Hawkes ● 1d

Butterfingers. Rioting against Hamas.

Lucille Grant ● 1d

Meanwhile western news media ignores Palestinians who are rooting against Hamas in Khan Younis. Sorry I can't provide a link.

Lucille Grant ● 1d

Unfortunately Mr Hawkes is completely unable to admit that Israel itself has any extremists who also need to compromise.

Philippa Bond ● 1d

Mr Brigo'I'm surprised you didn't call the Pope a 'Vatican operative'I am not as childish as you.

John Hawkes ● 1d

The UK and 27 other countries have called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, where they say the suffering of civilians has "reached new depths".A joint statement says Israel's aid delivery model is dangerous and condemns what it calls the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians" seeking food and water.

Gerry Boyce ● 1d

I'm surprised you didn't call the Pope a 'Vatican operative'

Michael Brigo ● 1d

Mr Boyce'Suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths": 26 nations sign a statement calling for an end to the war, while food security body the IPC warns more than 1.5 million people are at risk of severe malnutrition or starvation.'Have Hamas made overtures to Israel signalling they which to renounce their Charter to annihilate it and its Jewish citizens and begin negotiations to live in peace along side Israel in the territory which is Palestine: namely Gaza and the West Bank ?Then the suffering of the Palestinian civilians might begin to cease.

John Hawkes ● 1d

"Suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths": 26 nations sign a statement calling for an end to the war, while food security body the IPC warns more than 1.5 million people are at risk of severe malnutrition or starvation.

Gerry Boyce ● 2d

He's the Pope.  Of course he will advocate for an end to the barbarity of war.  Every act of war, everywhere.  I'm sure it's part of the job description.

Sue Hammond ● 2d