Pope Francis hopes that ceasefire agreement in Gaza will be respected immediately

This Sunday after praying the Angelus, Pope Francis called for the recent ceasefire agreement and release of hostages in Gaza to be “immediately respected” by the forces of Israel and Hamas.

“I hope that the agreement is immediately respected by the parties and that all the hostages can finally return home and hug their loved ones. I pray a lot for them and for their families,” he said on January 19 before the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The Pontiff also expressed the desire that humanitarian aid “reach more quickly and in large quantities to the population of Gaza, who urgently needs it.”

On Friday night, the Israeli Cabinet approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, negotiated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. In the first 42-day phase, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and the elderly, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children.

According to the BBC, the suspension of hostilities, which will last at least six weeks, puts a pause on a 15-month conflict that has left more than 46,000 dead, thousands injured and millions displaced.

During his message, the Pope stressed that this Sunday the aforementioned agreement must come into force, for which he thanked all the mediators. “It is a beautiful job to mediate to achieve peace. Thanks to the mediators! I also thank all the parties involved in this important achievement,” he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized that both Israelis and Palestinians “need clear signs of hope” for the future.

“I hope that the political authorities of both, with the help of the international community, can reach a just solution based on two States. That everyone can say: yes to dialogue, yes to reconciliation, yes to peace,” he said.

Finally, the Holy Father invited parishioners to pray “for dialogue, reconciliation and peace” in Gaza.

Reflection on the release of detainees in Cuba

In his message, the Pope also made reference to the recent release of a group of detainees in Cuban prisons, a gesture that he considered full of hope and part of the intentions of the Jubilee Year.

“I hope that in the coming months initiatives of this type will continue to be undertaken in various parts of the world, which instill confidence in the path of people and peoples,” he expressed.

Finally, he remembered in his prayers the victims of the conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and other regions affected by war, and asked the faithful to pray for him.