Vatican Urges End to Gaza Violence

(27 Dec 08 - RV) Director of the Vatican Press Office Fr Federicco Lombardi today urged Israelis and Palestinians to renounce violence and seek a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict, expressing alarm at the proportions of the Israeli offensive and serious concern over the number of victims, a number he says is destined to rise.


Speaking on Vatican Radio, Fr. Lombardi describes the Israeli offensive as a "very serious blow" to the Islamic militant group Hamas but also points out that it may cause "many innocent victims and damage peace prospects in the Holy Land".


Fr. Lombardi says that "Hamas is prisoner of the logic of hate, while Israel prisoner of the belief that the use of force is the only answer to hate".


Instead he concludes "both sides must look for a different way out, even though it seems impossible".