Urging The End Of Violence In Gaza And Israel, Pope Francis: Please Stop Attacks On Weapons, Don't Bring Solutions

JAKARTA - World Catholic Church leader Pope Francis called for an end to attacks and violence in Gaza and Israel, saying terrorism and war will not solve the problem, but will only bring further suffering and death to innocent people.

"I followed with concern and sadness what happened in Israel," the Pope said in his weekly address at St. Peter's Square, Vatican.

"I express my solidarity with the victim's relatives, and I pray for all those who have experienced times of terror and sadness," Pope Francis continued.

As previously reported, Israel hit Palestinian enclaves in Gaza on Sunday, killing hundreds of people, in retaliation for a Hamas attack that it said killed 700 Israelis and kidnapped dozens more.

"Please stop attacks and weapons, because it must be understood that terrorism and war do not bring solutions, but only death and suffering for many innocent people. War is defeat, every war is defeat. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine," Pope Francis stressed.

Attacks by Hamas fighters in Israeli cities on Saturday became the deadliest attack on the country, the Egyptian and Syrian attacks in the Yom Kippur War that broke out about 50 years ago.

In response, Israeli airstrikes hit housing, tunnels, mosques and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised.

"The price that the Gaza Strip has to pay will be very heavy and will change the reality from generation to generation," said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the attack would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Gazans have lived under a 16-year Israeli-led blockade since Hamas took control of the region in 2007.

"How many times have we warned you that Palestinians have lived in refugee camps for 75 years, and you refuse to recognize the rights of our people?" said Haniyeh.