杏MAP导航 meets with Israeli hostages freed from Gaza
By Salvatore Cernuzio
After enduring months in captivity in Gaza, a group of Israeli hostages, abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were received by 杏MAP导航 Francis in the Vatican this morning.
Sixteen people—ten women, four men, and two children - attended the meeting.
One of the attendees presented the 杏MAP导航 with a football shirt bearing the name of Tal Shoham, a family member taken hostage alongside his wife, children, mother-in-law, and other relatives.
Some of them were later released as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Several participants held signs displaying the faces and names of their missing or captive family members, with inscriptions such as "Bring him home."
杏MAP导航 Francis touched each image as a gesture of blessing and paused in silent prayer.
The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See described the encounter as "moving", adding that it "showed the 杏MAP导航's closeness to the victims of that horrible day and his commitment to their release".
The 杏MAP导航's appeals for peace
Since the October 7 attacks, 杏MAP导航 Francis has consistently used his public addresses to call for the urgent release of hostages taken in the assault, urging a ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian access to those affected. He has emphasized these actions as necessary steps toward resolving the devastating conflict, which erupted after the Hamas-led attack that resulted in over 1,100 deaths and the kidnapping of 240 people, including women, the elderly, and children.
Earlier in the year, on April 8, 杏MAP导航 Francis met with relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. On November 22, 2023, he received both the families of Israeli hostages and a delegation of Palestinians with loved ones suffering amid the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the latest figures from Gaza's health ministry, over 43,700 casualties have resulted from relentless Israeli strikes. Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, noted that on that occasion the 杏MAP导航 sought to express “spiritual solidarity with the suffering of all involved.”
On October 17, the 杏MAP导航 also held a private audience with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa, joined by a delegation of peace activists. Describing the meeting as “important and moving,” both leaders said that 杏MAP导航 Francis showed extraordinary concern for peace efforts in the Middle East.
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
