Pope Francis asks Hamas to free prisoners and expresses worry about the blockade on Gaza

Pope Francis expressed deep worries about the “total” Israeli closure of Gaza on Wednesday and urged the militant Islamist organization Hamas to free all captives taken during its onslaught on Israel over the weekend.

He remarked during his weekly audience, “I pray for those families who witnessed a feast day turn into a day of sadness, and I urge that the hostages be freed promptly.

Francis said, in reference to Israel’s reaction to Hamas, “It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but I am very worried by the total siege under which Palestinians in Gaza live, where there have also been many innocent victims.”