Pope calls for an end to West Bank violence against Palestinians

Pope Leo XIV has urged the global community to swiftly address the escalating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. (Vatican Media/EPA Images) During a Sunday address from Castel Gandolfo, the Pope called for an end to assaults on civilians by militant settlers who have cut off water and electricity to communities, a tactic rights groups have labeled as an effort to seize more land.

The Pope reiterated his plea for an end to repeated violence against the Palestinian population in the West Bank, urging the international community to take action towards advancing a two-state solution and achieving a fair, lasting peace. The Vatican has consistently supported the notion of a future Palestinian state, recognized by over 150 of the UN's 193 member states, which includes the Gaza Strip and West Bank, along with East Jerusalem.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition government has been constructing settlements in the West Bank, claiming these efforts aim to undermine the concept of a Palestinian state. The UN and most governments view these settlements as illegal under international law concerning military occupation.

Israel initially occupied the West Bank during the 1967 war, but maintains that the territory is disputed rather than occupied.