Pope Francis hopes for continuation of humanitarian pause in Gaza

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Pope Francis voiced hope Wednesday for an extension of the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip and said for everyone, except arms manufacturers, "war is always a defeat."

"I hope that the truce underway in Gaza might continue, so that all the hostages might be freed, and the necessary humanitarian aid might be able to enter," Francis said at the end of his general audience, according to the Vatican News.

"War is always a defeat," he said. "Everyone loses. Well, not everyone -- there's a group that earns a lot. Those who make weapons. They earn a lot from the deaths of others."

Noting that he recently spoke to Gaza’s Catholic parish. "They don’t have water; they don't have bread; ordinary people are suffering; the people are suffering," he said. "It’s not those who make war who are suffering.”

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend an initial four-day pause for two more days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.