President Abbas Discusses Terrible Conditions Of Palestinians Due To Israeli Genocide With Pope Leo XIV

JAKARTA - President Mahmoud Abbas discussed the crisis situation to the dire conditions experienced by Palestinians in occupied areas due to Israeli genocide with the leader of the World Catholic Church Pope Leo XIV by phone call Monday.

President Abbas briefed the Pope on the terrible conditions experienced by the Palestinian people as a result of the ongoing genocide war in the Gaza Strip, marked by widespread killings, hungers and destructions, the latest destruction of the Kudus Family Church in Gaza.

President Abbas reiterated Palestinian priorities for achieving a ceasefire, securing the release of hostages, facilitating the entry of medical and humanitarian aid, WAFA July 22.

President Abbas further called on Pope Leo XIV to direct his prayers and requests to world leaders to stop the killing, hunger, and terrorism of settlers against the Palestinian people, to stop attacks on places of sacred Islam and Christianity.

It also includes preventing acts of terror carried out by settlers in Al-Taybeh Village, which he emphasized were unacceptable and condemned, stressing that this should not be repeated.

He also emphasized that Palestinian Muslims and Christians unite in fighting for freedom and independence.

On the occasion President Abbas also praised the Vatican's honorable stance in enforcing international humanitarian law and its repeated calls for peace.

He also reaffirmed the Palestinian State's commitment to strengthening its close ties with the Vatican, which recognized the Palestinian State in 2015.

President Abbas also appreciated the Vatican's decision to accommodate and care for children injured from Gaza and their families in Rome, inviting Pope Leo XIV to visit the Holy Land, praying at the Church of the Birth of Jesus and the Holy Cemetery for peace and the end of the war.

Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV stressed the Vatican's call to respect international law and humanities, the importance of ending war and suffering, and the need to stop violations of holy places.

"We pray for peace. Yesterday, we made a request to the faithful to stop the war and respect international law and humanities and holy places," Pope Leo XIV said.

Yesterday, medical sources in Gaza confirmed the death toll of Palestinians as a result of Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave since October 7, 2023, had reached 59,029 people, while injuries reached 142,135 people.