Pope Demands End ‘Collective Punishment,’ Forced Displacement in Gaza/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pope Leo XIV has demanded Israel end “collective punishment” and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. He urged a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access, and respect for international law, while also calling for Hamas to release hostages. The pope’s plea comes as Israel prepares a major offensive in Gaza City despite international concerns.
Pope Leo XIV Gaza Appeal Quick Looks
- Pope Leo XIV condemned collective punishment and forced displacement of Palestinians.
- He urged a permanent ceasefire and full respect for humanitarian law.
- The pontiff also called for the release of 50 Hamas-held hostages.
- Churches in Gaza continue sheltering civilians despite Israeli evacuation orders.
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vows a new Gaza City offensive alongside ceasefire talks.
- Human rights groups warn against proposals for Palestinian relocation.
Pope Demands End ‘Collective Punishment,’ Forced Displacement in Gaza
Deep Look
Pope Leo XIV issued one of his strongest appeals yet on Wednesday, urging Israel to halt what he described as “collective punishment” and the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. Speaking before thousands during his weekly general audience at the Vatican, the pontiff called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, alongside guarantees of humanitarian access to the besieged enclave. His remarks were interrupted twice by applause from the crowd.
The pope, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, framed his statement around the protection of civilian lives, invoking international law’s prohibition on indiscriminate force and population displacement.
“I beg for a permanent ceasefire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated and humanitarian law to be fully respected,” he said. He added that civilians must not be made victims of warfare and stressed that accountability extends to all sides of the conflict.
At the same time, Leo pressed Hamas to release the remaining hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel. That attack killed around 1,200 people and sparked the war. Hamas initially captured 251 hostages, most of whom were released in exchanges or ceasefire deals. Israel has confirmed eight successful rescues. Officials now estimate that of the 50 people still believed to be in Gaza, about 20 may still be alive.
The pope’s comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a new offensive targeting Gaza City, one of the most densely populated areas in the territory. Netanyahu has argued that the campaign is essential to weakening Hamas and securing the release of hostages, even as his government also claims to pursue a ceasefire. Critics, including families of the hostages, warn that renewed military action could endanger those still captive and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
Inside Gaza, famine conditions have already been documented, adding to the urgency of humanitarian appeals. In response to Israel’s evacuation orders ahead of the expected offensive, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch issued a joint statement declaring that priests and nuns in Gaza would not abandon their churches. They stressed that many civilians taking shelter there — the elderly, children, people with disabilities — were too weak and malnourished to move. Evacuating them, they said, would amount to a “death sentence.”
Both the Holy Family Catholic Church and the Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza City have provided refuge for hundreds of civilians since the war began. Pope Francis, during his final days before his death earlier this year, remained in daily contact with Gaza’s Holy Family parish priest, expressing solidarity with those enduring the war and offering spiritual support through the Sisters of Charity religious order.
The Vatican’s concerns align with the pope’s broader teachings on forced migration and the rights of communities to remain in their homelands. Just days earlier, Leo reiterated that “no one can force them into exile” while addressing displaced people from the Chagos Islands, a statement widely understood as applying to Palestinians as well.
Netanyahu and members of his government have floated the idea of relocating Gaza’s population abroad through what they describe as voluntary emigration. Human rights organizations have rejected the proposal, warning that such a plan violates international law and could amount to permanent expulsion. Palestinians themselves fear that if they leave Gaza temporarily, they will not be permitted to return.
The pope’s latest appeal adds to mounting international pressure on Israel to temper its military approach, while also signaling Vatican alignment with humanitarian agencies and rights advocates calling for an immediate end to mass displacement and collective punishment. Whether it can influence the trajectory of the conflict remains uncertain, but it underscores the moral weight that global religious leaders are bringing to bear on a war entering its second year of devastation.
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