The fragile truce reached between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip entered its third day today, and so far resulted in the release of 26 Israelis, 78 Palestinians, 14 Thais, and one Filipino.

Pope Francis on Sunday laid stress on the significance of the truce in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and insisted on the pressing need for a dialogue to put an end to clashes.

Vatican City.- In his words to the faithful and pilgrims present at St. Peter’s Square after the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis said that “There is a truce between Israel and Palestine, and some hostages have been released, may they all be released as soon as possible”.

“Let more humanitarian aid enter Gaza and let us insist on dialogue: it is the only way, the only way to have peace,” asked the Bishop of Rome, who emphasized that “those who do not want to dialogue do not want peace.”

On November 22, Pope Francis received, for humanitarian reasons, a delegation of relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza, and another of Palestinian victims of the Israeli bombardments, which have already caused 14,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip, and after listening to them, he emphasized his call “for peace to come”. (PL)