Raphael Schutz, who has served as Israel's Ambassador to the Holy See since 2021, told Crux that the pope's statement "in a way fills a vacuum I felt needed to be filled in recent days, especially recognising the right of Israel to self-defence."

"This is the most important element in what he said. Of course, calling for the release of the hostages is also very important," Schutz said.

So far, Israeli authorities report that 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the onslaught, marking the worst in the country's history, while in Gaza more than 1,100 people have reportedly been killed as a result of Israel's retaliatory air and artillery strikes.

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"We want to express our deep concern about the escalating situation in the Holy Land, particularly the suffering of the most vulnerable individuals we support. We implore the international community to leverage their influence to swiftly halt this ongoing violence and strive for a just solution for all parties involved," said Anton Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, in a statement.

The recent terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli territory killed 1,200 people and injured over 2,700. Dozens of hostages, mostly civilian men, women and children taken hostage.

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It cautions against the use of "linguistic ambiguities" and "parallelisms" that would equate the aggressors in the conflict with its victims.

This warning comes in the wake of a massive and deadly offensive launched by Hamas, which has prompted Israel to declare war.

The conflict, which began with Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, has led to appeals for peace from various quarters, including Pope Francis and church leaders in the Holy Land.

However, the Israeli embassy is particularly concerned about how this conflict is framed in the public discourse.

"In these circumstances, the use of linguistic ambiguities and terms that allude to a false symmetry should be deplored" the embassy stated.

They emphasised that Israel's response cannot be described as anything other than the right of legitimate self-defence.

"To suggest parallelisms where they don't exist isn't diplomatic pragmatism; it's just wrong," the statement continued.

Every war is a defeat

Pope Francis expressed his deep concern during his Sunday Angelus address in St Peter's Square on 8 October.

"I am following with apprehension and pain what is happening in Israel, where violence has exploded even more ferociously, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries."

Francis urged both sides to halt the attacks and understand that violence and war offer no solution but only death and suffering.

He stressed, "War is a defeat, every war is always a defeat."

He is calling on the faithful to join him in praying for peace in Israel and Palestine.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the only Catholic church in Gaza, said ‘Never have we seen things like this time.'

"In the parish we have taken in more than 80 Christians and other Muslim neighbours of our school who have requested accommodation there," the priest said.

"There are hundreds of dead and thousands of injured among the population" he added.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem called for international intervention.

It urged religious leaders to de-escalate the situation, preserve the status quo in Holy Places and protect the fundamental rights of people in the region.

Tensions between Israel and Palestine have risen following Netanyahu's re-election and the formation of a far-right coalition.

The patriarchate emphasised the urgent need for a lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and called on world leaders to work towards peace.

Sources

CruxNow

Catholic News Agency

Vatican News

CathNews New Zealand

The pope said at the end of a public address on Sunday he is following the violence "with apprehension and sorrow" and issued an appeal to "please stop weapons attacks!"

The head of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, called for a de-escalation of the situation in a statement Oct 7.

"The continuing bloodshed and declarations of war remind us once again of the urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land," he said.

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