Netanyahu even lies to Pope Leo XVI about the Gaza truce.
The attack on the church in Gaza
The slaughter continues. The end to the war hoped for by Leo XIV is not in the hearts of those who govern Israel.
It took the bombing of Gaza's only church, the death of three Palestinian civilians, and the wounding of the parish priest, for Israel to grant permission for a cardinal to enter with 500 tons of aid. Not out of humanity, but to contain the international backlash. In the eyes of the world, Israel has crossed another red line. The Church of the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, which has become a shelter for displaced people fleeing the war, was hit by IDF artillery fire shortly after morning Mass: three people died, nine others were injured, one in critical condition and two in serious condition. The parish priest, Argentine Father Gabriel Romanelli, was also slightly wounded in the leg . Pope Francis had called him almost daily after October 7th to check on the small Christian community in the Palestinian enclave and to assure them of his support.
"Following the serious attack on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, entered Gaza this morning as part of an ecclesiastical delegation, expressing the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza." This was announced in a statement from the Latin Patriarchate. "Cardinal Pizzaballa will personally assess the humanitarian needs. The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten or abandoned." "Access has been guaranteed for the delivery of essential assistance, not only to the Christian community, but also to as many families as possible. This includes hundreds of tons of food supplies, as well as urgently needed first aid kits and medical equipment. Furthermore, the Patriarchate has ensured the evacuation of those injured in the attack to medical facilities outside Gaza."
" We thank His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who called Cardinal Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilus upon their entry into Gaza to offer them his support, his closeness, and his prayers," a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said. The Patriarch recounted that Pope Leo " repeated several times that it is time to put an end to this massacre and that what happened is unjustifiable and we must ensure that there are no more victims." "The Holy Father renewed his appeal for renewed impetus to negotiations and for a ceasefire and an end to the war." This was reported by the Vatican Press Office, following the telephone call between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Leo XIV . During yesterday morning's telephone call, Netanyahu invited Pope Leo XIV to Israel. Ynet reports. The Israeli Prime Minister made a revelation to the pontiff: "We are close to an agreement." It would be laughable if it weren't such a tragedy.
At least 25 people have been killed since yesterday morning in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medical sources. In the southern Gaza Strip, several raids have been reported in the city of Khan Yunis, including the bombing of a tent camp for displaced people in the Mu'assi area, in which several civilians were injured. Rescuers also reported that five members of the same family were killed and ten were injured in an artillery attack on a house in the city, which collapsed on its occupants, hampering rescue operations. Several other people were injured in an airstrike near the al-Shafi Mosque in the Khan Yunis refugee camp. The slaughter continues. The end to the war, as desired by Leo XIV, is not among the feelings of Israel's government.
l'Unità
