Head of the Catholic church Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged the global community to push for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, calling for the release of hostages and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Speaking at his weekly audience in the Vatican, he said, "I once again issue a strong appeal ... so that an end may be put to the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction, and death."
The pontiff called for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid, stressing that "international humanitarian law must be fully respected."
While he did not directly name Israel or Hamas, he highlighted obligations under international law, including "the obligation to protect civilians, prohibitions against collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of the population."
Elected in May as the first American Pope to succeed Francis, Leo has generally shown a more reserved style, preferring scripted remarks.
Still, he has repeatedly pressed Israel to allow greater humanitarian access to Gaza.
Earlier in the August, American Popstar Madonna urged the Pope to visit Gaza and "shine his light" on the children there, for which the singer received backlash citing her close ties to Israel.
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Reports from CNN say the Pentagon has approved the provision of long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine after assessing its impact on U.S. stockpiles, while leaving the ultimate decision to President Trump.
Ukraine’s top military commander has confirmed that troops are facing “difficult conditions” defending the strategic eastern town of Pokrovsk against a multi-thousand Russian force.
Residents of Hoi An, Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed ancient town, began cleaning up on Saturday as floodwaters receded following days of torrential rain that brought deadly flooding and widespread destruction to the central region.
The United Nations has warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan after reports emerged of mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacements following the capture of al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Egypt has inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Great Pyramid of Giza, unveiling the world’s largest archaeological museum and a modern cultural landmark celebrating over 7,000 years of history.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 2 November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The U.S. has carried out another deadly strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean.
Russia has launched its new nuclear-powered submarine, the Khabarovsk, at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, the Defence Ministry said Saturday.
Russia has condemned the United States for using what it called excessive military force during counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, saying the actions breach both U.S. and international law.
At least 21 people have been killed and more than 30 are missing after a landslide struck Kenya’s Elgeyo Marakwet East region in the Rift Valley following days of heavy rain, authorities said.
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