Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza and renewed an appeal for the release of hostages held by Hamas, Reuters reports.

“Let no-one abandon the possibility of stopping the weapons,” he said at his weekly blessing in St. Peter’s Square.

“Ceasefire,” he said, mentioning a recent television appeal by Father Ibrahim Faltas, one of the Vatican’s representatives in the Holy Land.

He then added in his own words: “We say ‘ceasefire, ceasefire’. Brothers and sisters, stop! War is always a defeat, always”.

Referring to “the grave situation in Palestine and Israel”, he said “in Gaza, in particular, let there be room to guarantee humanitarian aid and may the hostages be freed immediately”.