Death Toll In Gaza Reaches 7,960, Pope Francis Again Calls For Israeli-Hamas Armistice

JAKARTA - World Catholic Leader Pope Francis has again called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the release of all hostages, concerned about the conditions that occurred in the Gaza Strip as the number of casualties there continued to grow.

"No one should ignore the possibility of stopping the weapon," the Pope said at a weekly blessing in St. Peter's Square, Vatican Sunday.

"The ceasefire," he exclaimed, referring to a recent televised call made by Pastor Ibrahim Faltas, one of the Vatican representatives in the Holy Land.

"We say 'firefire, ceasefire'. Brothers and sisters, stop! War is always a defeat, always," added the Pope.

Referring to "serious situations in Palestine and Israel," he said, "in Gaza, in particular, provides space to ensure humanitarian aid and hopefully the hostages will be released soon," the Pope hoped, referring to the hostages detained by Hamas in a raid on southern Israeli territory on October 7.

Pope Francis' call comes as the Israeli military launches ground operations into Gaza, a move PM Benjamin Netanyahu calls the second phase of a war that has entered its third week, to eliminate Hamas.

As of Sunday, the death toll in Gaza rose to 7,960 people according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, citing data from sources in the Hamas-controlled enclave.

The ministry's report states that 73 percent of the death toll comes from vulnerable populations, including children, women and the elderly. In addition, the death toll includes 116 medical personnel.

These latest figures come as Israel's war with Hamas has entered its next stage, after they expanded ground operations in the enclave.

"The war in Gaza will last a long time," Prime Minister Netanyahu said Saturday.