Therefore, in the name of human dignity and international law, I repeat to those responsible what Pope Francis used to say: “War is always a defeat!” And with Pius XII, “Nothing is lost with peace. Everything can be lost with war.
Russian air strikes on Ukraine continue
Russian airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine have intensified in recent weeks, with at least 18 people killed and 151 wounded in overnight drone and missile strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks were among the most horrific since the full-scale invasion of his country by Russia in February 2022.
Noting that the attack on Kyiv was the deadliest so far this year, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine warned of the dangers of using such weapons in major cities.
“Last night’s attack exemplifies the grave threat posed by the tactic of deploying missiles and large numbers of drones simultaneously into populated areas, which leads to civilian casualties, and profound suffering,” Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU, said in a statement.
Conflict between Israel and Iran
Thousands of people are fleeing the Iranian capital, Tehran, as Israel continues to carry out strikes aimed at eliminating Iran’s nuclear program.
More than 220 people were reportedly killed in the initial round of Israeli strikes, including military leaders and nuclear scientists. Israeli military sources said their air force had struck 20 targets in Tehran overnight.
In response, Iran has launched some 400 missiles at Israel, with approximately 40 making it through Israeli air defences. Authorities in Israel claim 24 people have been killed by the strikes.
Israeli tanks fire on civilians seeking aid
In Gaza, Israeli forces are continuing military operations, ostensibly seeking to destroy the Hamas political and military organization. Israel launched an offensive into Gaza following armed incursions by Hamas militants into Israel in October 2023 that resulted in approximately 1200 Israeli deaths. Additionally, Hamas took approximately 250 hostages during the raids, more than 50 of whom are still being held in captivity.
On Tuesday, Israeli tanks reportedly fired on crowds awaiting trucks carrying humanitarian aid. Medics present at the scene said almost sixty people were killed and more than 220 wounded, including about 20 in critical condition. Israel admitted firing in the area and said it was looking into the incident.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, almost 400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,000 have been wounded since the end of May, with numerous casualties occurring among civilians waiting to receive aid. The ministry claims more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, while almost the entire population of Gaza has been displaced by the violence. – Vatican News
