The patriarchate stressed that it was praying for the repose of the souls of the dead and for an end to what it called this 'barbaric war.'

"His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region."

Israeli strikes have resulted in 31 deaths in Gaza as critical fuel shortages threaten essential services. Despite international talks, ceasefire efforts remain stagnant. UN agencies raise alarms over Gaza's dire fuel situation,

Hamas has waged a campaign of terror against Israel and Jews worldwide, but it does so by first reigning with terror over the people of Gaza.

Israel’s initial answer to the question of how to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza was to tell more than a million Palestinian residents to flee their homes and head south.