Pope Leo appealed on Sunday for an immediate cessation of violence targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a call issued amidst a notable increase in attacks by militant settlers and a reported siege in the village of Qusra.
The pontiff's statement came as Israeli settlers reportedly encircled homes in Qusra, cutting off essential services such as water and electricity. Human rights organizations have characterized these actions as a coordinated effort to expand settlements and further diminish the territory designated for a future Palestinian state.
"I renew my appeal for an end to the repeated violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank," Pope Leo stated during his noon prayers at his Castel Gandolfo residence. He did not specify any particular incidents or confrontations in his address.
Furthermore, the Pope urged the international community to undertake decisive actions to promote the two-state solution, aiming for "a fair and lasting peace." The Vatican has historically supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, a vision recognized by a significant majority of United Nations member states, encompassing the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
The current Israeli administration, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been instrumental in expanding settlements across the West Bank. Some government officials have openly stated that these construction efforts are intended to undermine the feasibility of a two-state solution. The United Nations and the majority of global governments consider these settlements to be in violation of international law pertaining to occupied territories. Israel, which captured the West Bank in the 1967 war, maintains that the territory is disputed rather than occupied.
