Pope Francis delivers his message during the Angelus noon prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 16, 2021 (AP)

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has denounced the "unacceptable" spiral of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, saying the deaths in particular of children was a "sign that they don't want to build the future but want to destroy it."
Francis prayed for peace, calm and international help to open a path of dialogue during his Sunday blessing, delivered from his studio window overlooking St Peter's Square.
The Pope said, "I ask myself: this hatred and vendetta, what will it bring? Do we truly think that we can build peace by destroying the other?"
In unusually pointed comments, Francis added, "In the name of God, who created all human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity and are called to live as brothers, I appeal for calm" and an end to the violence.
Israeli airstrikes have been pounding Gaza City for days as heavy fighting has broken out between Israel and the territory's militant Hamas rulers. The Gaza health ministry said 10 women and eight children were among the 26 people killed in Sunday's airstrikes, with another 50 people wounded in the attack.

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