ATHENS

Pope Francis expressed concern over the total siege of Gaza, saying the Middle East does not need war but peace, the official Vatican News agency reported on Wednesday.

“I pray for those families who have seen a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning and ask for the immediate release of the hostages,” said the pontiff during his general audience speech, the agency added.

Urging both parties to show restraint, he stressed: “Terrorism and extremism do not help to reach a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, but fuel hatred, violence, and revenge, causing suffering to both sides.”

“The Middle East does not need war but peace, a peace built on justice, dialogue, and the courage of fraternity,” the pope also said.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories. The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.