September 18, 2025 | 12:15 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Leo XIV expressed his solidarity with the people of Gaza on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. As reported by Al Arabiya, the pope stated that civilians had once again been forced to leave their land and live in "unacceptable conditions."
"I express my deep solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza who continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, being forcibly displaced once again from their lands," said the 70-year-old Pope after the general audience.
Hundreds of thousands of residents of Gaza City have been attempting to flee the northern city since the massive bombings by Israeli forces, who claim that their operations aim to destroy Hamas.
"I renew my appeal for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages, for a negotiated diplomatic solution, and for the full respect of international humanitarian law,” said the pope.
“I invite everyone to join my heartfelt prayer that soon a dawn of peace and justice will rise."
Israel Launches 150 Airstrikes in 2 Days
The Israeli military on Wednesday, as reported by Anadolu, stated that they had launched more than 150 airstrikes and artillery attacks on Gaza City over the past two days. This is part of what they call an expansion of the ground offensive to occupy the largest city in the Gaza Strip.
Footage released by the military shows troops inside the city as commanders announce the beginning of a new phase of ongoing attacks on Tuesday.
However, eyewitnesses and local sources told Anadolu that there were no major strikes, only intensive shelling, drone fire, and remotely controlled explosive devices forcing thousands of residents to flee.
Military officials said the 98th and 162nd divisions are "deepening their maneuver" under Operation Gideon's Chariots 2. They warned that the attack on Gaza City could last for months.
At the same time, the Palestinian telecommunications provider, Paltel, confirmed a permanent internet and home phone service blackout throughout Gaza City and northern Gaza after Israeli attacks damaged main network routes.
"Our teams are working around the clock to repair the lines under dangerous conditions," the company said. Residents reported widespread power outages in several neighborhoods.
The campaign in Gaza City comes weeks after the Israeli government approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip, starting with the densely populated city.
Since early August, Israeli forces have bombed high-rise residential buildings and apartment blocks. They have used artillery, drone strikes, and even booby-trapped robots with explosive materials.
Opposition leaders and hostage families in Israel have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for his political survival, warning that a withdrawal from Gaza could topple his coalition. International groups have also voiced concerns about the disaster's consequences for civilians.
The Israeli military has killed nearly 65,000 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 2023.
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