Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in the Middle East on Sunday, after a week that saw deadly Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, Israeli military strikes in Gaza, and intensified U.S. operations against Iran.

The pope’s new appeal came in remarks following the Angelus prayer on Sunday at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

A deadly spate of Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank led to a crackdown by Israeli forces this weekend, resulting in dozens of arrests of Palestinians, as Israeli military strikes against targets in Gaza continued.

This weekend reportedly brought a pause in U.S. strikes against targets in Iran, after nearly two weeks of nightly operations that damaged infrastructure – and also reportedly raised a number of strategic and political concerns from senior leaders on the U.S. side.

West Bank and Gaza

Israel’s military said it detained over 70 suspects across the occupied West Bank between Friday and Saturday, after soldiers deployed across the territory in the wake of settler violence that four Palestinian villagers and two Israeli soldiers dead.

Reports overnight said Israeli forces detained as many as 4o Palestinians in the city of Nablus.

Egypt expressed concern over the Israeli crackdown on Sunday, citing “acts of violence and intimidation as well as arson of homes, property, and religious sites, and attacks on civilians,” carried out by settlers.

In Gaza, Israel has continued to conduct strikes almost daily, despite a cease-fire that went into place nine months ago. A weekend Israeli strike killed the police commissioner in northern Gaza, while other Israeli strikes reportedly left civilians killed and injured.

Israel claims the commissioner was part of the Hamas military organization, but Gaza’s interior ministry has claimed the Israeli targeting of senior police personnel is designed to sow “chaos” in the territory.

The pontiff on Sunday said he was “following with concern the continuing and worsening violence in the Holy Land, of which many civilians have recently been victims, in the West Bank and Gaza.”

“I make a heartfelt appeal for a return to negotiation of a just political solution based on the equal dignity and rights of every human person,” Leo also said.

The pope also called “for the rejection of new military actions and unilateral decisions, particularly those that violate respect for and the status quo of the holy places of every religious faith.”

Iran and region

U.S. strikes against targets in Iran were apparently “on hold” this weekend, after senior U.S. military and civilian officials reportedly voiced concerns over a host of issues, including U.S. munitions stockpiles and the potential for major escalation.

The 13-night string of U.S. attacks damaged water and power infrastructure in Iran, and brought retaliatory strikes from the Islamic regime, which targeted U.S. allies across the region.

Some of those retaliatory strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Kuwait.

Iranian officials meanwhile reported disruption of drinking water to thousands of people living in villages that relied on facilities hit by U.S. strikes in Iran.

“[I]ntensified military operations have brought violence and destruction, seriously endangering the lives of numerous civilians and worsening the shortage of drinking water and electricity,” Leo said on Sunday.

“From the bottom of my heart,” the pontiff said, “I urge all parties involved to suspend attacks and urgently reopen spaces for dialogue and diplomacy, to achieve as soon as possible the peace so desired for the entire region.”

The pope asked the faithful around the world to pray for all those afflicted by war.

“Let us continue to pray for all the peoples of the world suffering because of war,” he prayed. “May the Lord touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of those responsible,” Leo prayed, “so that reconciliation and peace may soon be achieved.”

Appeal for wildfires in Europe

Pope Leo XIV also prayed for victims of wildfires burning across swathes of southwestern Europe, which have killed at least one person and displaced a quarter-million others so far.

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“In light of the devastating fires that have affected various parts of France and Spain in recent days,” Leo said, “I express my closeness and invite everyone to pray for those affected and for the work of the rescuers.”

Shifting conditions at the weekend were creating very challenging conditions for firefighters in both countries.

 

*This story has been updated with developments including details of Israeli detentions and statements from regional neighbors.