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Pope worried about Gaza
05/11/2006 15:33 - (SA)
Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI told the faithful on Sunday that he was worried about the "grave deterioration" of the situation in Gaza.
Speaking from his studio window overlooking St Peter's Square, he called on all sides to work to stop the bloodshed and to immediately resume direct and concrete negotiations.
Israel launched an offensive in and around the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun last week to try to halt rocket fire on southern Israeli towns. Palestinian officials say 45 Palestinians have been killed so far during the five-day offensive.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to say on Sunday when the offensive would end.
On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the UN security council for urgent intervention to stop the Israeli offensive, his spokesperson said.
Israel withdrew its troops and settlements from Gaza last year, but later sent forces back in after Palestinian militants tunnelled into Israel and kidnapped an Israeli soldier.
Benedict made several impassioned pleas earlier this year for a cease-fire during the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon. He expressed dismay that the conflict in the Middle East had dragged on for so long, and lamented the lack of dialogue to bring enduring peace.
- AP
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