Israel's embassy to the Holy See said
in a note Monday that the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip
was being conducted in compliance with international law and
intended to minimize civilian casualties after Pope Francis in
his Angelus message on Sunday expressed sadness for "the
resumption of heavy Israeli bombings".
The Israeli operation is conducted "in full compliance with
international law" and aims to "reduce to a minimum" harm or
damage to civilians, said the note.
"While Hamas deliberately targets civilians", Israel adopts
"extraordinary measures" to reduce to a minimum collateral
damage, said the statement released "in reference to the
Angelus".
"Hamas has repeatedly violated the ceasefire and has used it to
rebuild its military arsenal", the note went on to say, adding
that "59 hostages are still detained in Gaza in inhuman
conditions" and the "State of Israel believes it is its moral
duty to bring them back home".
In his Angelus message on Sunday the pope said: "I was saddened
by the resumption of heavy Israeli bombings on the Gaza Strip,
with many dead and wounded.
"I ask that the weapons be silenced immediately; and that we
have the courage to resume dialogue, so that all the hostages
may be freed and a definitive ceasefire may be reached," he
said. "In the Strip, the humanitarian situation is once again
very serious and requires the urgent commitment of the warring
parties and the international community," the pontiff added.
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