Pope Leo met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican to discuss the urgent need to end the Gaza conflict and facilitate humanitarian aid, emphasizing the importance of pursuing a two-state solution. The meeting coincided with Abbas's visit to Pope Francis' tomb and marked the 10th anniversary of the Palestine-Holy See agreement.
The US revoked the visa of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the UN General Assembly, prompting protests from Palestine and European countries, amid ongoing tensions related to Gaza and US-Palestinian relations.
Pope Leo XIV spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, urging respect for International Humanitarian Law, protection of civilians and sacred sites, and the need for humanitarian aid amid escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank, while also recalling the tenth anniversary of the Holy See-Palestine agreement.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is in Qatar to discuss securing a ceasefire in the Gaza war with the Qatari emir, as Qatar plays a crucial role in international mediation efforts. The talks will also focus on increasing aid for Gaza's population. Qatar hosts leaders of the militant group Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, leading to a division between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah group. Efforts to resolve these internal disputes have so far been unsuccessful, weakening Palestinian efforts to secure a state of their own.