Pope Leo voiced concern on Sunday (July 27) over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning that civilians are being "crushed by hunger" as violence and deprivation continue to escalate.
Renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire during Angelus prayer, the pontiff appealed for the release of hostages and urged full respect for international humanitarian law.
Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations each day for 10 hours in parts of Gaza and allow new aid to enter.
Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. A total of 127 people have died due to malnutrition, including 85 children, since the start of the war, the ministry said.
READ: Israel declares Gaza fighting pause amid deepening hunger crisis
Aid groups said last week there was mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people and international alarm over the humanitarian situation in Gaza has increased, driving French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
The U.N. said last week humanitarian pauses in military activity would allow "the scale up of humanitarian assistance," adding that Israel had not been providing enough route alternatives for its convoys, hindering aid access.
Israel, which cut off the aid flow to Gaza from the start of March and reopened it with new restrictions in May, says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being diverted by militants.
It says it has let enough food into Gaza during the war and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza's people.
Israel and the U.S. appeared on Friday to abandon ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, saying it had become clear that the militants did not want a deal.