At least 93 Palestinians were killed on Sunday when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid in northern Gaza, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. The incident happened near Gaza City as people gathered for desperately needed food supplies.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported the deaths, saying the situation reflects a growing pattern of violence at aid points in the region. Many previous deaths have also occurred under similar circumstances. The Israeli military has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest incident.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV strongly criticized the ongoing conflict during his traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday. Speaking from Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence near Rome, the Pope called for an immediate end to what he described as the “barbarity” of the war in Gaza. He also condemned the “indiscriminate use of force” and urged all parties to seek a peaceful resolution.
His remarks come just days after an Israeli military strike hit the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, where around 600 displaced people, mostly children and those with special needs, were sheltering. The Pope expressed his “deep sorrow” for the attack and said he spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following morning.
The Israeli government has acknowledged the incident at the church, expressing “deep sorrow” and stating that the military is investigating the strike.
On Sunday, Israel also issued a new evacuation order for parts of central Gaza, warning of planned military action against Hamas militants. The ongoing war has already displaced most of Gaza’s population, estimated at over two million people, many of whom have been forced to flee multiple times over the past 22 months.
Pope Leo urged the international community to enforce humanitarian law, protect civilians, and prevent the forced displacement of populations. He also voiced concern for Middle Eastern Christians, acknowledging their feelings of helplessness amid the violence.
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