The Pope condemns the “futile” war in his Christmas mass

In central Gaza, the Al-Maghazi refugee camp suffered a significant Israeli attack on Sunday, resulting in at least 70 deaths, as reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the region.

Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the ministry, described the event in the Maghazi camp as a massacre occurring in a densely populated residential area. He made this statement through a Telegram post.

The Israeli military acknowledged the reports of the incident at the camp and stated its commitment to minimizing civilian harm.

The health ministry reports that the conflict, which began in early October, has led to over 20,000 deaths in Gaza.

Recent Developments Include:

– **Pope’s Christmas Message**: During the Vatican’s Christmas celebrations, Pope Francis reflected on the ongoing war’s contradiction to the message of Jesus’ birth. In his midnight mass on Christmas Eve, he lamented the rejection of the “Prince of Peace” by the relentless war, specifically pointing to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Consequently, traditional Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, located in the occupied West Bank, were largely canceled.

– **Escalation of Military Efforts**: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the intensification of military operations within Gaza. He confirmed Israel’s determination to continue the fight against Hamas until victory is achieved. This statement came after Netanyahu discussed the war’s objectives with US President Joe Biden, who urged the protection of civilians but did not call for a ceasefire.

– **Military Strikes**: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported about 200 strikes on Gaza targets by ground, aerial, and naval forces in the past day. The IDF also confirmed the death of 15 Israeli soldiers in Gaza since Friday, bringing the total IDF casualties in the enclave since October 7 to 154.

– **Tunnel Operations**: The IDF revealed details about a demolished underground Hamas tunnel network, which was supposedly used as a northern headquarters in Gaza. The IDF linked this to their recent operations in the Jabalya camp area, describing the tunnel network as strategic and multi-leveled.

– **Rafah Unrest**: In Rafah, southern Gaza, gunfire erupted near the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs headquarters. Captured in a CNN-obtained video, the scene showed people fleeing amidst gunfire, with many carrying relief aid. The exact source of the gunfire and any casualties remain unclear. The region faces severe food insecurity, affecting approximately 2.2 million residents.

– **Hostage Release Efforts**: Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israel’s Prime Minister, reached out to Pope Francis and the spouses of 33 world leaders, requesting assistance in the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This move is part of Israel’s diplomatic efforts for the hostages’ release.