Palestinian President Meets Vatican Officials to Address “Urgent Needs” in Gaza

Pope Francis met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican on Thursday, their first direct meeting in three years. This comes at a time when the Pope has become increasingly critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The Vatican, without delving into details, stated: “Pope Francis and Abbas held private talks for half an hour,” according to Reuters.

A statement noted that Abbas later met with senior diplomats of the Catholic Church to discuss “the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where it is hoped that a ceasefire can be reached and all hostages released as soon as possible.”

Abbas expressed gratitude to the Pope for his “positions supporting the achievement of a just peace in Palestine based on a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the delivery of aid to the Strip.”