Israel-Hamas conflict has transcended traditional warfare and entered the realm of terrorism — Pope Francis 

Pope Francis said that both parties “struggle so much” during a separate meeting with Israeli relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and hostages held in Gaza on Wednesday.

The 86-year-old pope asked for prayers for peace at the conclusion of his weekly audience at the Vatican, stating of both parties, “They suffer so much and I heard how they both suffer.”

Wars accomplish this, but in this case, they are not enough. “This is not war, this is terrorism,” he continued, unable to clarify if he was alluding to Israel’s military action in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’ October 7 attack on the country, or both.

The private meetings would be “exclusively humanitarian in nature,” according to the Vatican, which stated last week that the pope wished to demonstrate his “spiritual closeness” during them.

Following the encounter, Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was abducted by Hamas, stated at a news conference that the pope “has a lot of influence”.

“He is highly esteemed in both the Muslim and Jewish communities, regardless of one’s religious background.” Thus, I believe that the world actually pays attention when he speaks,” she told reporters in Rome.

“We feel the Holy Father has the influence in the world to make those things happen,” the group stated, requesting that the Red Cross be given access to the hostages.

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Goldberg added, “I felt his love and his support and I believe he will do everything he can to help us.” Her son had suffered severe injuries during his detention.

She was one of the twelve hostage families that the pope met with.

After weeks of all-out fighting, Israel and Hamas announced a deal on Wednesday that would liberate dozens of Palestinian inmates and at least 50 hostages, as well as grant the beleaguered people of Gaza a four-day truce.

“Until I see them cross the border and be embraced safely, I’m not counting hostages being freed in this deal,” Goldberg declared.

According to the Israeli government, the deadliest cross-border incident in Israel’s history was carried out on October 7 by Hamas gunmen, leaving almost 1,200 people dead—the majority of them civilians.

An estimated 240 Israelis and foreigners, including elderly and small children, were also taken hostage by Hamas and other Palestinian armed organisations.

Israel retaliated by launching a massive bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza, killing 14,100 people, many of them children, according to the Hamas authority.

AFP