Children being machine-gunned in Gaza says pope (2)

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 22 - Pope Francis on Sunday condemned Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, blasting their "cruelty" during his weekly Angelus prayer.
    "With pain I think of Gaza, of so much cruelty, of the children who are machine-gunned, of the bombings of schools and hospitals - how much cruelty", said the pontiff.
    Francis also asked for a "ceasefire" on all fronts for the Christmas holidays.
    The pope had launched the same message on Saturday, prompting Israel to accuse him of having "double standards". (ANSA).