Pope Francis’ pain after attack on kyiv children’s hospital and school in Gaza

Pope Francis has received with “great pain” the news of the Russian attacks on two hospitals in kyiv (Ukraine), including the largest children’s medical center in the country, as well as the Israeli army’s offensive against a school in Gaza.

Through a statement released from the Vatican this July 9, the Holy Father has conveyed his shock at the escalation of violence, especially in the wars that are ravaging Ukraine and the Holy Land.

After both attacks, the Pontiff also expresses his closeness to the “victims and the injured innocents” and hopes and prays “that concrete ways can soon be identified to put an end to the ongoing conflicts.”

Russia attacks Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital

On the morning of Monday, July 8, Russia attacked two hospitals, including Okhmatdytthe largest children’s medical center in Ukraine, located in the capital of kyiv, ending the lives of at least 4 children.

More than 600 patients had to be evacuated from the hospital, and more than 100 transferred to other centers. Rescue teams are still searching for people buried under the rubble.

Likewise, air attacks were carried out in other cities in the country against civilian infrastructure, causing the death of a total of 28 people and injuring 190.

The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which includes several Christian Churches, Jewish and Muslim communities in Ukraine, condemned this “terrorist attack” and particularly regretted the destruction of part of the maternity building of the children’s hospital.

“Racist Russia’s targeted rocket attacks on children’s hospital Okhmatdyt, The maternity building and other hospitals are a war crime and an act of extreme cruelty and contempt for human life and for God,” they said in a statement on July 9.

Along these lines, they make an international call to condemn Russia’s actions against Ukraine. Specifically, they ask to recognize Russia as a “terrorist state”, to break economic relations with them, to take necessary measures to restore international law and to provide Ukraine with the necessary means to protect life, including air defense.

“We share the grief and pain with the families, who have lost their most loved ones and who suffer as a result of the terrorist actions and war crimes of the Russian terrorist state. “We thank the Ukrainian Defense Forces and ask God to bless their service with success and victory,” the statement read.

Israel attacks a school in Gaza

The Holy Father also regretted the attack carried out by the Israeli army on a school managed by the UN in the Gaza Strip.

The school was part of a refugee camp in would harmsouth of Gaza City, where nearly 2,000 displaced Palestinians lived.