Pope Francis delivers Easter message from Vatican
AFP news agency on March 31 quoted Pope Francis calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, increased aid distribution in the area and Hamas to release hostages.
In his Easter message at the Vatican, he called on the world to resist the "logic of arms". Earlier, he celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Square with the presence of about 60,000 believers.
In his traditional address broadcast worldwide, Pope Francis condemned war as "always an absurdity and a failure", mentioning conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar and elsewhere.
On Gaza, he said the Palestinian people there were "now at the limit of their endurance", and was particularly concerned about the impact on children. "Let us not allow the rising winds of war to blow into Europe and the Mediterranean. Let us not give in to the logic of arms and rearmament," he said.
He also proposed a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. He also called on world leaders to make efforts to combat human trafficking to free the victims.
Also on March 31, the foreign ministers of Egypt, France and Jordan called for an "immediate and lasting ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
The call was made after diplomats met in Cairo, Egypt, according to Al Jazeera.
Speaking at a joint press conference, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said his country would introduce a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council to seek a political settlement to the conflict.
The draft includes "all the criteria for a two-state solution" to the Israel-Palestine conflict, something the international community has called for but the Israeli government has rejected.
Casualties mount
The health authority in the Gaza Strip said on March 31 that the death toll there had risen to 32,782, in addition to 75,298 people injured since October 7, 2023.
Of these, 77 people were killed and 108 injured in the past 24 hours. In addition, the Gaza media office said that more than 400 people, including patients and medical staff, have been killed in Israeli attacks on al-Shifa hospital in the past 13 days.
The Israeli military said it was continuing its operation at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. The Israeli military said it had killed 15 Hamas militants in central Gaza over the past day.
In addition, Israel said it had killed several gunmen in the city of Khan Younis. Israeli military aircraft attacked about 80 targets across Gaza, including buildings and infrastructure.
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