Pope calls for Gaza ceasefire, hostages' release
Pope Leo XIV reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages and for leaders on both sides of the war to 'fully' respect international humanitarian law.
'From #Gaza, the cries of parents rise to heaven ever more intensely as they clutch the lifeless bodies of their children, searching for food and shelter from bombs,' the pontiff said in a Wednesday morning post on social platform X. 'I renew my appeal to leaders: cease fire, release all hostages, and fully respect international humanitarian law!'
Leo — who was elected as pope on May 8, becoming the first American pontiff — has appealed for conflicts in the Middle East and eastern Europe to end.
'I, too, address the world's great powers by repeating the ever-present call 'never again war,'' Leo said May 11, calling for peace in Gaza and in the ongoing three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Leo denounced recent Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Leo's calls for peace come as thousands of Palestinians rushed into a new aid distribution center in the south of the war-torn enclave Tuesday. The center, which began its work this week, is operated by the U.S. backed-Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and is set up to distribute food packages.
So far, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has dished out around 8,000 food boxes, a senior U.S. administration official said Tuesday.
'Each box feeds 5.5 people for 3.5 days, totaling 462,000 meals,' the official said.
Israel previously had an 11-week aid blockade in place.
The United Nations said it would not be involved in the work of the organization, arguing it does not adhere to its principles of independence and neutrality.
The foundation's executive director, Jake Wood, resigned from his post Sunday, pointing to a lack of independence.
'It is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon,' Wood said in a statement to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Democrats to square off in Wayne primary for chance to challenge mayor
WAYNE — A pair of Democrats will vie for the party nomination to run for mayor in one of the only contested primary elections in Passaic County on June 10. James Freeswick, 75, is facing Donald Pavlak Jr., 64, the Board of Education president and the candidate endorsed by party leaders. The winner will challenge Republican Mayor Christopher Vergano in a general election on Nov. 4. Vergano, 66, is finishing his fourth four-year term. He is uncontested in the GOP primary. The contested race pits two men who each possess a desire to serve the community, although Pavlak has enjoyed much more success at the polls. The retired police sergeant has never lost an election, while Freeswick has come up short in seven attempts. This marks his third bid for the mayor's office. But just to participate in the process, Freeswick said, is a token victory. Municipal government: Clifton City Council members last got a raise in 1962. Is it time for another? 'I believe in American democracy,' said Freeswick, whose foray into politics began when he was elected as the first Student Council president of Wayne Hills High School nearly 60 years ago. 'I don't take it personally when I lose an election,' he added. 'It's the way it is — the voters get to decide.' Freeswick may have a better shot to win this primary, he said, because Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law on March 6 to overhaul the ballot design, obliterating a county-line system that was viewed as unfair to non-endorsed candidates. The controversial change was precipitated by a federal lawsuit filed last year by then-Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat who has since succeeded Bob Menéndez as senator. 'It can't hurt,' Freeswick said of his more conspicuous ballot position. 'It certainly can't hurt — it's certainly more equitable.' Pavlak, meanwhile, said he is relying on his reputation as a straight shooter. He said he models his honest approach after his late father, who was the police chief here until retiring in September 1999. Story continues below photo gallery. 'I always prided myself on telling the truth,' said Pavlak, now in his seventh term on the school board. 'Whether you like it or don't like it, you're going to hear the truth out of my mouth.' Freeswick and Pavlak expressed similar attitudes toward promoting the local economy, repairing crumbling infrastructure and stabilizing the tax base. Their opinions varied significantly on affordable housing. Pavlak said he would explore ideas to satisfy the state mandate that do not involve private development. He stopped short of suggesting that he would recommend the formation of a public housing authority. 'The vision I have is to keep Wayne the community that it is and to not make it a vertical community,' said Pavlak, a 1979 graduate of DePaul Catholic High School. 'Every option should be on the table. We have used the same playbook for 20-plus years, and it's not working.' Freeswick attacked his opponent's plan to address the issue, calling it 'very vague.' He said he is opposed to public housing and that if elected, he would adopt the method used by the current administration — settling site by site with for-profit builders. 'That's the way municipalities in New Jersey have complied with their Mount Laurel quotas,' Freeswick said. 'That's the best path to follow.' Three at-large seats on the Township Council are also up for grabs, and the Democrat and Republican slates are uncontested in their respective primaries. Council members Jill Sasso and David Varano, both Republicans finishing their second terms, did not seek reelection. The county's only other contested primary is happening in Wanaque, where Borough Council President Edward Leonard and Councilman Dominick Cortellessa are being challenged by Republican Angela Demetriou. In-person early voting begins on June 3 at 10 a.m., a week before the date of the primaries. Philip DeVencentis is a reporter for For access to the most important news in your community, subscribe or activate your digital account. Email: devencentis@ This article originally appeared on Wayne NJ Democrats vie to challenge mayor in 2025 election
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The plight of Jimmy Lai shames us all
Dictatorships use solitary confinement as a form of torture, designed to break the prisoner's spirit. Under international law, 'prolonged solitary confinement' is defined as exceeding 15 days. British citizen and 77 year-old media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, in jail in Hong Kong, has now exceeded 1,600 days in solitary confinement, yet has committed no crime. He has already served several prison sentences on multiple trumped-up charges, including 13 months for lighting a candle and saying a prayer at a vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. He is currently on trial under Hong Kong's draconian National Security Law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, and could face life imprisonment, simply for standing up for the human rights and democratic principles that China pledged to guarantee when it was handed control of Hong Kong from British rule. The authorities appear determined to drag his trial out for as long as possible. When it started at the end of 2023, it was due to last 30 days. Multiple adjournments have meant that closing submissions will not be heard until August this year and the verdict and sentencing may not come until the end of the year, making it a two-year trial process. This outrageous foot-dragging is designed to test the mental strength of Mr Lai, his family and his legal team. Despite widespread international condemnation, Mr Lai continues to be held in a tiny cell for more than 23 hours a day, deprived of natural light, and permitted less than an hour a day for physical exercise in a confined space. This is dehumanising and brutal treatment more often associated with 'maximum security prisons' for extremely violent offenders, while Mr Lai just lit a candle to commemorate a massacre that China has tried to erase from history, and exercised his freedom of expression by founding and publishing a successful newspaper. He is in jail for journalism, and for his opinions. Mr Lai, who is diabetic, has been denied access to independent medical care, and denied the right to his first choice of legal counsel, when British barrister Tim Owen KC was barred from representing him. His international legal team has received numerous outrageous threats. Even the right to receive Holy Communion has been restricted which, for Mr Lai as a devout Catholic, is a particularly poignant cruelty. Several governments around the world – including the United Kingdom, United States and Australia – have called for his release, as have the Canadian and European Parliaments. Five United Nations Special Rapporteurs – independent experts on freedom of expression, freedom of association, torture, the independence of judges and lawyers, and counter-terrorism and human rights – and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention have expressed concerns about the case. But the key question is what is the British government actually doing to free its citizen? It is not that no one seems to care – plenty of sympathy and support has been expressed for Mr Lai's plight. The fact that both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves have raised the case in their exchanges with China's leaders is welcome. A cross-departmental approach from the Government is the right strategy. But the important question is how was it raised? In passing, as a box-ticking exercise, or in a meaningful way? If Mr Lai dies in jail, what will be the consequences for China's relations with the United Kingdom, and have they been spelled out? It is time to turn sympathy into action, and words into meaningful measures. That is why an open letter to the prime minister last week by 22 former prisoners or relatives of former prisoners from around the world, asking him 'to do everything in your power to bring Jimmy Lai home', is so powerful and significant. Among the signatories are people whose own plight once looked dire. They include Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza and his wife Evgenia, former Iranian prisoner Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband Richard, Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei who was jailed in China, Paul Rusebagina who was imprisoned in Rwanda and the former Soviet dissident For these reasons, they urge the United Kingdom to take urgent steps to secure Mr Lai's release, 'before it is too late'. They call on the prime minister to meet Mr Lai's family as a matter of urgency, and to take 'robust, principled, strategic action'. President Donald Trump has said that Mr Lai's case will be on the table in any US-China trade talks. The United Kingdom must be equally strategic in identifying what leverage it can use to free Mr Lai. It must make it clear to Beijing that Mr Lai's continued imprisonment – and the risk that he might die in jail – is not in the interests of either China or Hong Kong. Not if it wishes to remain a significant business partner. Other countries have been able to secure the release of their citizens from China. Australia worked hard to free Cheng Lai, as did Canada in the case of its citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, and Ireland with the detention of businessman Richard O'Halloran. The United States spares no effort in securing the release of its citizens unjustly imprisoned abroad. Sir Keir Starmer therefore must step up to free Mr Lai. Mr Lai's name must be on the lips of every world leader, every diplomat, every journalist and every Parliamentarian until he is freed. He should never have been arrested in the first place, but after four and a half years of his detention in solitary confinement it is time to say clearly to Beijing: enough is enough. Free Jimmy Lai now. Benedict Rogers is Senior Director of Fortify Rights and a co-founder and trustee of Hong Kong Watch Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hamilton Spectator
14 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Horoscope for Friday, May 30th, 2025
The bright and buoyant energy returns, which should put some extra pep in our steps. If the mid-week slump made it difficult to get much done, today allows us to make up for lost time. The timing is also great for starting new projects. If there's a problem to be solved, employing intellect and ingenuity will enable us to find viable solutions. Aside from using the day to handle responsibilities, we're encouraged to make time for fun. The afternoon and evening will be perfect for social gatherings and festive events. ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Be choosy about what you give your mental energy to so that you can put it to good use and develop great ideas. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Perhaps it's time to update your budgeting system to one that better fits where you currently are in your life. You can always make changes later. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You know what you want to accomplish next, and now there's a clear path forward. It's go time! CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Information that may have been hidden before may be revealed now, which could help you solve a problem that's been bugging you. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Make plans to meet up with your friends. While the first half of the day may be a bit sluggish, the latter half promises more fun and excitement. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) An unexpected opportunity may come your way, but you're ready for it! LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Keep an open mind. You never know who you might meet, what kinds of interesting places you might come across, or the enriching experiences you could have. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) By facing what you've been avoiding, you may find that you're more capable of handling things than you realize. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) It's an ideal day for meetings as the line of communication is open. Too, a chance encounter could turn into a meaningful connection. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) If efficiency is your goal today, you can achieve a lot within a short amount of time. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) You may meet someone who wants to invest in you or your ideas. This could be the start of something great! PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) The need for a family meeting could arise, or perhaps you need to handle a matter concerning your home or real estate. Prepare to put in some work. FOR TODAY'S BIRTHDAY You spend a lot of time on activities and interests that stimulate your mind. You enjoy the company of others, especially if they're as chatty and witty as you. You're quite charming and popular. Chances are, you're also very creative. You prefer logic and reason over emotion. However, learning how to sit with your feelings rather than trying to analyze them all the time is something you must try to master. This year, curiosity is king! Savour every opportunity to learn and explore. BIRTHDATE OF: Idina Menzel, singer/actress; Wynonna Judd, country music singer; Antoine Fuqua, film director.
